Process to produce prostratin and structural or functional analogs thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a process to convert a hydroxyl group (bold in R 3 C—OH) in a tigliane-type compound to a hydrogen (bold in R 3 C—H) to obtain deoxytigliane-type compounds or structural or functional analogs thereof. The process has wide application particularly to produce specific biologically active compounds in quantity for use as pharmaceuticals. In particular the process can be used to convert phorbol to a 12-deoxytigliane (prostrating which is a therapeutic lead for the treatment of AIDS. New compositions of matter are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/962,020 filed on Jul. 26, 2007, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

This research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGrant #CA31841. The U.S. Government has certain rights in thisinvention.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention concerns a process to convert a hydroxyl group (bold inR₃C—OH) in a tigliane-type compound to a hydrogen (bold in R₃C—H) toobtain deoxytigliane-type compounds or structural or functional analogsthereof. The process has wide application particularly to producespecific biologically active compounds in quantity for use aspharmaceuticals. In particular the process can be used to convertphorbol to 12-deoxytiglianes (e.g., prostrating, which are therapeuticleads for the treatment of AIDS.

2. Description of the Problems and Related Art

Availability of Prostratin

In the treatment of disease, many therapies use components from naturalsources or from synthetic modifications of natural products. Aspirin wasfound early in the bark of a willow tree. Many natural and non-naturalbeta-lactam antibiotics are produced from natural sources often bysemi-synthesis from a common fermentation product.¹ Naturally-occurringand non-natural steroids used as therapeutics have been obtaineddirectly or through semi-synthesis from plant sources.

More recently, taxol, an effective anti-cancer agent, was originallyextracted from a natural resource, e.g., the bark and needles of theWestern Yew, Taxus brevifolia. The total synthesis of taxol has beenreported by the groups of Holton,^(2,3) Wender,⁴ Nicolaou,⁵Danishefsky,⁶ Kuwajima,⁷ and Mukaiyama.⁸ While taxol is thus availablethrough total synthesis, it has proven to be significantly morepractical to produce it through semi-synthesis from a more readilyavailable and structurally related plant natural product of the baccatinfamily. Semi-synthesis has also led to the production of non-naturaltaxanes like taxotere that have proven to be more effective in sometherapeutic applications than the natural product taxol. A recentcompilation of natural products as sources of new drugs indicates that asignificant percentage of all new drugs introduced over the last 25years were either natural products or derived from natural productsthrough semi-synthesis.¹ Not unlike the examples cited above andreferences cited therein, prostratin is currently available only in lownatural abundance from Euphorbia cornigera, Homolanthus nutans and otherorganisms.⁹ Other approaches are being explored, but none has yetaddressed supply. Thus, there is a need in the art for a new process forproduction of prostratin and structural or functional analogs thereofthrough semi-synthesis from readily available starting materials.

AIDS and the HIV Reservoir Problem

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a pandemic disease causedby HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). In a recent report, UNAIDS (theJoint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) estimated that 33.2 millionpeople were living with HIV and 2.1 million people lost their lives toAIDS in the year 2007.¹⁰

HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) has been successful indecreasing HIV-I in the plasma to undetectable levels in many treatedpatients. However, latent virus reservoirs remain in patients even afterHAART. Such latent virus reservoirs are not targeted by current drugtreatments and slowly produce the active virus over time. Therefore,interruption of treatment on such patients often results in viralrebound at a later stage.

Because HAART treats only active virus, the latent virus reservoirsdecrease only very slowly in patients on HAART. It is estimated thatdecades of treatment would be required to deplete the latent viralreservoirs. Such long treatment is undesirable due to the side effectsarising from prolonged use of the required therapeutic agents, theexpense associated with this chronic therapy, patient complianceconcerns, and the eventual emergence of resistance to the chronicallyadministered therapeutics by viral mutation. Therefore, agents that cancontrollably flush the latent virus from its reservoirs could, inprinciple, provide a means to eradicate the virus when used as adjuvantsin combination with HAART¹¹.

Prostratin's Activity—A Potential Solution to the HIV Reservoir Problem

Prostratin (12-deoxyphorbol-13-acetate) (FIG. 1) is a tigliane diterpenefirst isolated from Pimelea prostrata and reported by Cashmore et al. in1976.¹² In 1985, Miana et al. reported isolation of prostratin fromEuphorbia cornigera. ¹³ More recently, prostratin has been found inlimited quantities in the Western Samoan plant Homalanthus nutans andother organisms. FIG. 2 shows a photograph of Homalanthus nutans (left)and a Samoan healer preparing an extract from the bark of the Samoanmamala tree (right). Prostratin demonstrated multiple promisingactivities against HIV, which are described in the following sections.¹⁴

Prostratin Induces Activation of Latent HIV Virus.¹⁵

In latently infected CD4+ T cells, prostratin induces HIV geneexpression. NF-κB and PKC (α and θ) activation are the key eventstriggered by prostratin. Although other phorbol esters such as PMA(phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate) are also shown to activate latent HIV,prostratin differs markedly from these and offers distinct therapeuticvalue because it does not exhibit the tumor-promoting activity of theseother agents. Therefore, prostratin is a promising therapeutic lead asan adjuvant to be used in HAART.

Prostratin Protects HIV-Infected Immune Cells from Cell Death

In an in vitro study, prostratin was shown to protect T-lymphoblastoidCEM-SS and C-8166 cell lines. At a prostratin concentration ofapproximately 1 μM, cell viability was restored to the level ofuninfected controls, and no sign of cytotoxicity was observed up toabout 25 μM. The mode of action is unclear, but the K_(i) of prostratinfor PKC is 12 nM, suggesting the involvement of PKC in theprocess.^(14a)

Prostratin Inhibits HIV Invasion into Healthy Cells by Downregulatingthe Expression of HIV Receptors on Cell Surfaces¹⁶

In CEM-SS and MT-4 cell lines, CD4 receptors were significantly reducedon cell surfaces, and mRNA array assay confirmed that CD4 geneexpression along with other HIV-1 receptors (CXCR4 and CCR5) weredownregulated in THP-1 cells. Staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor was shownto reverse the CD4 downregulation by prostratin, implying theinvolvement of PKC activation in the process. In addition, prostratinstimulates the internalization and subsequent degradation of CD4 andCXCR receptors in CEM cells. PKC translocation studies on this cell lineshowed PKCβ and PKCδ remained in the cytosol, whereas PKCα, τ, θ, and εwere effectively translocated to the plasma membrane.

In a more recent study, DPP (12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate), anothernon-tumor promoting phorbol ester, was reported to be 20-30 fold morepotent than prostratin in activating latent HIV-1. DPP alsodownregulates CD4 and CXCR4 receptors at nanomolar concentrations.¹⁷ Asis true for many therapeutic agents, greater potency could lead toimproved therapeutic potential. This invention also provides a processfor the production of DPP and other structural or functional analogsthat may have superior clinical activity.

Potential Use of Prostratin as a Protective Adjuvant in AnticancerRadiotherapy

Activators of NF-kappaB pathway can protect healthy cells from theradiation during anticancer radiotherapy. In studies with mice andrhesus monkeys, the survival rate of the animals after radiation therapywas significantly improved when the NF-kappaB activators were injectedto the animals.¹⁸ Therefore, prostratin and its functional analogs,being NF-kappaB activators without the tumor-promotion effect, holdgreat promise as adjuvants in anticancer radiotherapy.

Prostratin's Supply—A Hurdle in Clinical Trials and Future Human Use

Prostratin has most recently been extracted from the bark and stemwoodof Samoan mamala tree (Homalanthus nutans). However, the isolationprocess requires multiple chromatographic separations (one Sephadexcolumn chromatography and two HPLC purifications) and the isolationyield is very low (15 mg of prostratin from 1.05 kg of freshstemwood).^(14a) In addition, the prostratin content variessignificantly between samples (0.2 μg/g to 52.6 μg/g).¹⁹ Other naturalsources have been identified but they too suffer from low prostratincontent, seasonal variation in content, and difficult separationprocedures. Therefore, based on existing natural product sources, itwould be difficult to economically produce prostratin in largequantities needed for human clinical trials (50 mg per treatmentsession).²⁰ Such large scale harvest could place significant burden onthe ecosystem. In addition, at present it is not clear that farmed treescould produce prostratin at the same levels as the wild type.

A research group at UC Berkeley signed an agreement with the Samoangovernment to use the mamala tree to identify and isolate the genesrequired to biosynthesize prostratin.²³ Their goal is to engineerbacteria by inserting the genes responsible for prostratin biosynthesisand produce prostratin by fermentation. However, this technology isstill in its early development stage and its feasibility is yet to bedemonstrated.

These limitations on supply account for the limited research that hasbeen done on prostratin and DPP, and the paucity of improved analogs.Accordingly, a need exists to obtain quantities of synthetic materialsfor use in the control of diseases.

SPECIFIC PATENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Patents of interest include but are not limited to: U.S. Pat. No.5,145,842; U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,839; U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,948; U.S. Pat.No. 5,955,501; U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,784; and WO 96/40614, all of whichare incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a process and platform for a variety ofsyntheses. Specifically, the conversion of phorbol to prostratin, DPP,and structural and functional analogs thereof provides for both largerquantities and diversity of material than are presently available fortherapy from natural prostratin sources. The process also enables thepreparation of new agents with tunable and improved therapeuticproperties.

In one embodiment, the present invention concerns a process to produce a12-deoxy tigliane-type compound or a structural or functional analogthereof of the formula:

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 to C15), cyclic alkyl (C3 toC15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate, carbamate, ester, ether,thiol, amine, amide, guanidine or urea, wherein the R₁₋₆ groups may bestraight-chained or branched, wherein the R₁₋₆ groups may comprise oneor more heteroatoms including, but not limited to boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, silicon or selenium, and wherein R₁ and R₆may be connected as in the case of 12-deoxy tigliane-type compounds, ormay be disconnected as in the case of structural or functional analogs.

Preferably, R₂ is methyl, R₃ is an ester (—OC(O)Ak, where Ak is an alkylchain), R₄ and R₅ are methyl groups, and R₁ and R₆ are connected by a 5member alkyl chain as in the tigliane skeleton.

The process comprises:

-   -   a) contacting an enol derivative or a ketone at the position        corresponding to C-13 of a compound that possesses partial or        total structural features of C- and D-rings of a tigliane with        hydrazine or an agent equivalent to hydrazine at a temperature        between −20 and +150° C. for about 0.1 to about 72 hours;    -   b) contacting the product of step a with a solvent at        approximately +20 to +250° C.;    -   c) contacting the product of step b with an oxidizing agent or        nucleophilic agent in a solvent at between about −10 to +120° C.        for approximately 0.1 to 72 hours;    -   d) 1) contacting the product of step c with light of a        wavelength that is absorbed by the product in a solvent at        between about −20 and +60° C. for between about 1 to 240 mm; or        -   2) contacting the product of step c with a solvent and            heating between about +50 and +300° C. for between about 1            and 60 hours; or        -   3) contacting the product of step c with an excited state of            a sensitizer formed by absorption of light by the            sensitizer; or        -   4) contacting the product of step c with a metal or metal            salt in a solvent at between about −80 and +110° C. for            between about 1 and 48 hours; and    -   e) isolating the 12-deoxy tigliane-type compound or a structural        or functional analog thereof.

In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the 12-deoxy tigliane-typecompound is prostratin or 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP).

Step a) may be conducted in the presence of a base or acid, and may befollowed by treatment with a base or hydrazine scavenger. Preferably,step a) is carried out with hydrazine hydrate in the presence ofpotassium carbonate, followed by acetic acid. In addition, the productof step a) may be treated with basic alumina.

Step b) may also be conducted in the presence of a base. Preferably,step b) is carried out in a mixture of N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine andtoluene.

Preferably, the oxidizing agent in step c) is iodoso benzene diacetate(PhI(OAc)₂) or lead (IV) acetate. In addition, the oxidizing agent instep c) may be premixed with phenylacetic acid. Also preferably, thenucleophilic agent in step c is hydrogen cyanide.

Step c) may be conducted in the presence of carboxylic acids, alcohols,thiols, amines, halides, or combinations thereof. In one aspect of thisembodiment, step c) is conducted in the presence of a mixture ofcarboxylic acids selected from the group consisting of primary alkyl,secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and aromatic organic carboxylic acids.Alternatively, or in addition, step c) may be conducted in the presenceof a mixture of alcohols selected from the group consisting of primaryalkyl, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and aromatic alcohols.Preferably, the wavelength of light used in step d) is between 300 and370 nm.

In one aspect of this embodiment, step c) is followed by:

-   -   contacting the product of step c) with a nucleophilic agent, an        alcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in a solvent        at between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours or with        an acid, base, oxidizing agent, or reducing agent; or    -   contacting the product of step c) with a nucleophilic agent, an        alcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in a solvent        at between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours and        then with an acid, base, oxidizing agent, or reducing agent; or    -   contacting the product of step c) with an acid, a base, an        oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent and then with a        nucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing agent or        combinations thereof in a solvent at between −20 and +150° C.        for between 0.1 and 72 hours.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the process further comprises:

-   -   contacting the product of step d) with a nucleophilic agent, an        alcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in a solvent        at between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours or with        an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent; or    -   contacting the product of step d) with a nucleophilic agent, an        alcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in a solvent        at between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours and        then with an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or reducing        agent; or    -   contacting the product of step d) with an acid, preferably        perchloric acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent        and then with a nucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing        agent or combinations thereof in a solvent at between −20 and        +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours.

Preferably, the above acid is perchloric acid.

In a further aspect of this embodiment, the process further comprises:

-   -   obtaining a compound that possesses partial or total structural        features of C- and D-rings of a tigliane;    -   contacting the obtained compound with a derivatizing agent, an        acid agent or a base agent at approximately −20 to 150° C. for        between about 1 to 72 hr to produce an enol derivative or ketone        at the position corresponding to C13 of a tigliane; and,        preferably,    -   contacting the enol derivative or ketone with an oxidizing        agent, a nucleophilic agent, or a reducing agent at        approximately +10 to +100° C. for approximately 0.1 to 72 hours.

The derivatizing agent, acid agent, or base agent, is preferablymethanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine, or hydrazine hydrate. The obtainedcompound is preferably phorbol, a phorbol analog, or a precursorthereof. The obtained compound may be protected at positionscorresponding to C-13 and/or C-20 of a tigliane or combinations thereof.The protecting groups may be removed by an acid agent or a base agent.

In another embodiment, the present invention covers a process to producea 12-deoxy tigliane structure or a compound having a partial structurethat includes the C- and D-rings of a 12-deoxytigliane of the structure:

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ are the same or different and eachare independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, alkyl (C1 to C20),cyclic alkyl (C3 to C15), aromatic ring (C4 to C6), hydroxyl, alkylcarbonate, carbamate, ester, ether, thiol, amine, and amide. R₁ may bealkanoyl as in —C(O)Ak wherein Ak is an alkyl chain (C1 to C20). R₁₋₆groups may comprise one or more heteroatoms including, but not limitedto boron, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, silicon or selenium. R₁and R₆ may be connected as in the case of tiglianes, or may bedisconnected as in the case of structural or functional analogs.

The process comprises:

-   -   a) obtaining an α, β or γ, β unsaturated ketone or enol        derivative optionally protected at various positions of a        compound that possesses partial or total structural derivatives        of C- and D-rings of a tigliane;    -   b) contacting the product of step a with hydrazine or an agent        equivalent to hydrazine, optionally in the presence of base or        acid, between −90 and +150° C. for about 0.1 and 72 hours,        followed by optional treatment with a base or hydrazine        scavenger;    -   c) optionally contacting the product of step b with a solvent at        between about +20 and +250° C. for between about 1 and 72 hours;    -   d) contacting the product of step b or step c, when performed,        with an oxidizing agent in a solvent, optionally in the presence        of other additives such as but not limited to: carboxylic acids,        alcohols, thiols, amines, or halides, at between about −10 to        +120° C. for between about 0.1 and 72 hours;    -   e) 1) contacting the product of step d with light of a        wavelength that is absorbed by the product in a solvent at        between about −20 and +100° C. for between about 1 to 240 min,        or;        -   2) contacting the product of step d with a solvent and            heating between about +50 and +300° C. for between about 1            and 72 hours, or;        -   3) contacting the product of step d with an excited state of            a sensitizer formed by absorption of light by the            sensitizer, or;        -   4) contacting the product of step d with a metal or metal            salt in a solvent at between about −80 and +110° C. for            between about 1 and 48 hours; and    -   e) isolating the cyclopropane containing functional or        structural analog.

The present invention also provides products made by the aboveprocesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of prostratin.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Homalanthus nutans. (Source: Sanders, R.,“Landmark agreement between Samoa and UC Berkeley could help search forAIDS cure.”

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the theoretical deoxygenation oftigliane scaffold. This outlines the overall process to produceprostratin from phorbol, and representation of intermediates thatcomplicate direct interconversion.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the isolation of phorbol and analcohol derivation order.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the ring-opening elimination toyield isopropenyl enol esters and ketones.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of other analogs that can beaccessed with this invention.

-   -   R₁, R₂=H, R₃=OAc (Prostratin); R₁, R₂=H, R₃=OCOCH₂PH (DPP); R₂        and/or R₃=H (di-deoxy tiglianes); OCOR (esters); OR (ethers);        Cl, Br, I, F (halogens); SeR (selenium ethers); SAk, SOAk, SO₂Ak        (thiol ethers, sulfones, sulfonates); Ak, Ar, CN (Carbon        substituents); and NHR, NR₂, NHCOR (Amines, amides)        Allows rapid diversification of C13 and cyclopropane        substituents.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of thesemi-synthesis of prostratin.

-   -   a) TrCl (4 eq.), Pyr., RT, 72 hr (77%)    -   b) Ac₂O (3 eq.) CH₂Cl₂/THF (1:1), RT, 24 hr (88%)    -   c) MsCl (1.3 eq.), Pyridine, 60° C., (78%) 1 hr    -   d) K₂CO₃ (1.5 eq.), then AcOH (4 eq.) H₄N₂H₂O (1.5 eq.), RT, 1        hr    -   e) Tol./(iPr)₂NEt (9:1), 130° C., 12 hr    -   f) Pb(OAc)₄ (1.2 eq.) DCM, 0° C. 10 min. (40%-50%, 4 steps)    -   e) Tol./(iPr)₂NEt (9:1), 130° C., 12 hr    -   f) Pb(OAc)₄ (1.2 eq.) DCM, 0° C., 10 min. (40%-50%, 4 steps)    -   g) HClO₄ in MeOH (0.01M), RT, 15 min (90%)    -   h) 300 nm light, PhH, RT, 45 min (92%)

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of thesemi-synthesis of prostratin.

-   -   (a) H₄N₂H₂O (2 equiv.), AcOH (5 equiv.), MeOH, 25° C., 45 min;    -   (b) pyridine/DIPEA (9:1), 150° C., 48 h;    -   (c) Pb(OAC)₄ (1.1 equiv.), CH₂Cl₂, 0° C., 30 min (43% of S7a        from Crotophorbolone);    -   (c′) Pb(OaC)₄ (1.2 equiv.), PhCH₂COOH (50 equiv.) (premixed),        CH₂Cl₂, 0° C., 30 min. (36% of S7b from Crotophorbolone;    -   (d) hv (300 nm), EtOAc/benzene (1:1) or MeOH, 25° C. (67-92% for        Prostratin, 90% for DPP)

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of representative analogs availablethrough modification of a, b, c, and/or d rings.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation demonstrating ways to accessbiologically active daphnanes.

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation showing concise synthesis of a keyintermediate.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the pyrazolinefunctionalizations, and conversion to cyclopropane derivatives, Part I.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the pyrazolinefunctionalizations, and conversion to cyclopropane derivatives, Part II.

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing photo-activatable drugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSDefinitions

As used herein, the definition of the terms used herein are usuallyfound in the art encyclopedias and dictionaries, see for example,Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (all volumes), Hawley's CondensedChemical Dictionary, etc.

“Alkyl (C1-C15)” refers to an alkyl group having from 1 (methyl) to 15carbons in linear or branched chain. “Cyclic alkyl (C3 to C15)” refersto a cyclic group of from 3 to 15 carbon atoms. “Aromatic ring” refersto a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring possessing resonance, namely itpertains to a closed ring of from 3 to 10 covalently linked atoms, morepreferably from 5 to 8 covalently linked atoms, which ring is aromatic.

“Daphnane” refers to a compound having a partial structure, whichincludes a tricyclic carbon skeleton shown below (with numbering).

“Derivative” refers to a compound derived from another compound throughone or more chemical transformations.

“Tigliane” refers to a compound having a partial structure, whichincludes a tetracyclic carbon skeleton shown below (with numbering).

“Ingenane” refers to a compound having a partial structure whichincludes a tetracyclic carbon skeleton shown below (with numbering)

“Functional analog” refers to a compound that exhibits the same orsimilar activity (biological function) as another compound whether ornot the compounds are structurally similar. For example, all proteinkinase C (PKC) activators are functional analogs; even though theypossess different structures they all activate PKC.

“Structural analog” refers to a compound that is structurally similar toanother compound whether or not the compounds are functionally similar.For example, all tiglianes are structural analogs; even though theypossess the same tigliane core they often exhibit widely differentactivities (functions).

“Tigliane-type compound” refers to a compound having at least a partialstructure that includes the C- and D-rings of a tigliane, where R₁-R₁₄can be varied. For example, Ingenanes are “Tigliane-type” compounds:

wherein R₁ to R₁₄ are the same or different and each independentlyselected from hydrogen, methyl, alkyl (C1 to C20), cyclic alkyl (C3 toC15) aromatic ring, hydroxyl, alkyl carbonate, carbamate, ester, ether,thiol, amine, or amide. R₁ may be alkanoyl as in —C(O)Ak wherein Ak isan alkyl chain (C1 to C20). R₁₋₁₄ groups may contain one or moreheteroatoms including, but not limited to boron, nitrogen, oxygen,phosphorous, sulfur, silicon or selenium. R₁₁ and R₁₂ may be connectedas in the case of tiglianes, or may be disconnected as in the case of12-deoxy tigliane compounds which are structural or functional analogsof the illustrated embodiments. Further exemplification of the presentanalogs is given in the Figures.

“Acid agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this art. Examplesinclude but are not limited to Brøonsted acids including perchloricacid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrobromic acid, andtoluenesulfonic acid; and Lewis acids including boron trifluoride.

“Base agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this art. Examplesinclude but are not limited to lone pair donors and proton acceptors,including N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (Hunig's base), and other aminebases, metal alkoxides, and alkyllithiums.

“Derivatizing agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this artfor altering hydroxyl groups, ketones, and/or enol ethers. Thesetypically consist of electrophilic species. Examples include, but arenot limited to mesyl chloride, thiocarbonyl diimidazole, toluenesulfonylchloride, etc.

“Hydrazine equivalent” refers to the usual definitions found in thisart. Examples include but are not limited to hydrazine hydrate, tosylhydrazide, silyl hydrazides, carbomethoxy hydrazide, tert-butylcarbazate, etc.

“Metal or metal salt” refers to the usual definitions found in this art.Examples include but are not limited to Ytterbium (III) triflate,Wilkinson's catalyst, Ruthenium (IV) chloride, etc.

“Nucleophilic agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this art.Examples include, but are not limited to alkyl alcohols such as methanolor ethanol, methoxide, carboxylic acids such as phenylacetic acid,carboxylates, thiols, selenols, etc.

“Oxidizing agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this art.Typically refers to agents that can take electrons from other molecules.Examples include but are not limited to, metal oxides such as Ag2O,metal salts such as Pb(OAc)4, hypervalent halogen reagents such asPhI(OAc)2, an electrochemical anode, molecular oxygen or ozone,peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, molecular halogen, molecular halogenequivalents such as N-bromosuccinimide.

“Protecting agent” refers to the usual definitions found in this art formodifying a functional group to prevent an undesired transformation. Themodification can then later be removed to restore the originalfunctionality.

“Sensitizer” refers to the usual definitions found in this art. Examplesinclude but are not limited to chemical compounds, which can absorblight and transfer the resultant excitation to the ground state ofanother molecule. Examples include, but are not limited to benzophenone,acetophenones, DMAB, and polyarenes.

“Wavelength of light” refers to the light used for the reaction of steph) in Claim 1. Examples of suitable wavelength ranges include, but arenot limited to: about 200 and 800 nm; preferably between about 300 and400 nm; most preferably between about 300 and 370 nm.

Semi-Synthesis of Prostratin and Related Analogs

On paper, the desired transformation of the phorbol skeleton to12-deoxyphorbols involves only the removal of an oxygen at C-12 (FIG.3). However, selective transformation adjacent to reactivefunctionalities including strained rings like that in phorbol is a majorsynthetic challenge. With the specific example of phorbol esters,de-oxygenation of phorbol at the C-12 position is complicated by theadjacent cyclopropyl group. The inherent ring strain of the cyclopropanering adjacent to C-12 makes a selective de-oxygenation of C-12exceedingly difficult, as any reactive intermediate formed in thisposition (cationic, radical, anionic, radical anion, radical cation,carbene, metal carbenoid) could result in opening of the ring (FIG. 3).For example, cyclopropyl methylradicals open at near diffusion controlrates with rate constants on the order of 108 s-1.25 Alternatively, theC-12 hydroxyl group of phorbol could be converted to a carbonyl groupand the latter reduced to a methylene group. However, such oxidation andreduction processes are incompatible with other functionality in themolecule. Protecting these other functionalities and subsequentdeprotection after C-12 reduction would require additional syntheticoperations. It is then non-obvious how one can convert phorbol intotiglianes lacking C-12 oxygenation in a practical fashion and morespecifically how this would be done to make prostratin and structuralanalogs thereof. We have been able to accomplish this feat in ourlaboratory.

Our short synthetic route has advantages and improvements over thecurrent supply (natural extraction) in that not only are we able toconvert a cheap and renewable starting material (phorbol) intoprostratin, related 12-deoxyphorbol-phenylacetate, and analogs thereof,we are also able to access non-oxygenated derivatives, possessingdifferent functionalities at C-13. These analogs are both present innature, but only from rare isolates; and in materials that have not beenisolated from nature but may possess important medicinal activities thatare even better than any of the natural isolates. In short, our routeallows for the practical synthesis of prostratin and structural andfunctional analogs thereof and can be used to tune the performance ofsuch compounds to achieve optimal therapeutic value.

The following description pertains to our synthesis of prostratin butcan be applied to structural and functional analogs because of itsflexibility and generality. Our synthesis of prostratin commences fromeither phorbol, phorbol-20-trityl ether, or crotophorbolone. Phorbol isa tigliane diterpene isolated from croton oil (˜1% yield).21 Croton oilis obtained from the seed of Croton tiglium, a renewable source, and itis readily available in kilogram quantities ($460/kg from LC labs).Croton oil is sufficiently abundant (45% of seed kernel in crotontiglium) to be considered along with palm, coconut, jatropha, rapeseed,and neem oils to be a source of biodiesel fuel 22. Phorbol andphorbol-20-trityl ether are also commercially available ($750/g from LCLabs, Woburn, Mass.). Crotophorbolone may be produced from acidhydrolysis of phorbol. Alternatively, crotophorbolone may be obtained bythe hydrolysis of 12-deoxy-16-hydroxyphorbol esters, which are availablefrom Jatropha curcas seed oil, an abundant renewable feedstock beingdeveloped as biodiesel.

While formally a penta-ol, the phorbol alcohols can be differentiatedreadily by their different reactivities (FIG. 4). The alcohols arederivatized in the order: C-20, C-13, C-12, followed by typicallydifficult derivatization at C-4 and C-9 (not depicted).

The derivitization of phorbol-13, 20-diesters (1) at the C-12 positionis frequently attended by fragmentation to yield enol 3 (FIG. 5), asoriginally noted by Bartsch26 and more recently reported by others usingcarbonyl diimidazole28. Hydrolysis of the initial enol derivative givesthe C13 ketone 4. The strain-induced cleavage of the cyclopropane bondin this reaction giving 3 illustrates the problem associated with directdeoxygenation of C12.

Given that the C12 oxygen in the starting phorbol has been removed inthe above process leading to 3 or 4, the challenge now lies inreestablishment of the cyclopropane “D” ring. The following pagesprovide a discussion of a technology that not only enablesre-establishment of the D ring and thereby enables the conversion ofphorbol into prostratin and 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP), butalso allows for rapid structural diversification of the C-13 andcyclopropane substituents (R2, R4 respectively). (FIG. 6)

Phorbol can be converted to prostratin in a variety of ways. In oneembodiment, the synthesis occurs as shown in FIG. 7. First, phorbol isconverted to a phorbol-13, 20-diester. In particular, the alcohol at C13is converted to an acetate and the alcohol group at C20 is protected bya trityl protecting group, thus producing phorbol-12-acetate-C-20 tritylether S1. Next, phorbol-12-acetate-C-20 trityl ether is converted to anenol acetate S2. This product is then used to generate a hydrazoneintermediate S4, followed by conversion to a pyrazoline S5. Thepyrazoline S5 is then converted to an acetoxypyrazoline S6. The tritylprotecting group is then removed, forming cyclic diazene S7, followed byformation of the cyclopropane 12-deoxyphorbol-13-acetate (prostratin).Details of this embodiment are described below in EXAMPLES 1-4. Asimilar process may be used to produce DPP, as described below inEXAMPLES 8-10.

In an alternative embodiment, the acetoxypyrazoline S6 is firstconverted into cyclopropane S8, followed by removal of thetrityl-protecting group, thus generating prostratin. Details of thisembodiment are described below in EXAMPLES 5 and 6.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the acidichydrolysis of phorbol produces crotophorbolone, which is then used asthe starting material. First, treatment of crotophorbolone withhydrazine in the presence of acetic acid selectively affords the C13hydrazone (not shown), which without isolation is cyclized to pyrazolineS5a. Oxidation of pyrazalone S5a with lead (IV) tetraacetate givescyclic diazene S7a, allowing for concomitant direct introduction of aC13 acetate group and a diazene bridge between C13 and C15. Other C13esters can also be directly introduced with this procedure by using thecorresponding lead (IV) carboxylate or related oxidants. Photolysis ofcyclic diazene S7a results in the extrusion of nitrogen andreestablishment of the C13-15 cyclopropane bond, providing prostratin inhigh yield and in a remarkably concise four-step sequence fromcrotophorbolone, or five steps from phorbol with a 12-16% overall yield,producing over 100 mg of prostratin from a single run. DPP can be madein a similar manner. In this case, the acetate ligands of leadtetraacetate are exchanged by premixing with an excess of phenylaceticacid. The resulting salt induces the oxidative conversion of pyrazolineS5a to diazene S7b. (in 36% yield for three steps from crotophorbolone).Subsequent photolysis affords the natural product and therapeutic leadDPP in 90% yield, or 13% overall yield from phorbol. Details of thisembodiment are described below in EXAMPLES 7 and 11.

In addition to allowing for introduction of various groups at the C13position, the enabling methodology can also be used to access a widerange of varied structures of the tigliane, daphnane and ingenanesfamilies and structural and functional analogs thereof. There are amyriad of A- B- and C/D ring modifications that one could access, thatare either known, or would represent new entities (FIG. 9). Thecombination of our 12-deoxy tigliane strategy with one or more of thesesuggested modifications gives an enormous array of structuralpossibilities, with the ability to generate a large library of bioactivemolecules. This could also potentially lead to substrates, which wouldenable the testing of the biosynthetic daphnane formation (FIG. 10).

The conversion of phorbol to 12-deoxy-tiglianes thus proceeds fromD-ring fragmented products 3 or 4 (FIG. 11). The opening of the D-ringalso provides the opportunity to derivatize the isopropenyl unit in 7,prior to mono-hydrazone formation with 8 while leaving the unsaturatedA-ring ketone intact. Then, upon modest heating (130° C.) in thepresence of base, hydrazone 8 can be isomerized to 9 and converted topyrazoline 10.30

Pyrazoline 10 provides a key intermediate for the introduction of manydifferent groups at C13. (FIG. 12)

For example, pyrazoline 10 reacts very rapidly upon exposure to lead(IV) carboxylate salts, and rapidly (generally <30 sec. at 0° C.) formscarboalkoxypyrazolines (11). These compounds (11) readily lose nitrogenupon exposure to 300 nm light in regular Pyrex glassware to form highyields of 12-deoxy tigliane esters (12).31 An intra- or inter-molecularsensitizer could also be employed to achieve the desired excitation andextrusion of nitrogen.

Alternatively, this transformation could also be done thermally attemperatures of about 220° C., or exposure to metal salts such asYb(Otf)3.32

A similar technique can be employed in the formation of ethers (13, 14)by dissolution of lead tetraacetate or iodobenzene diacetate in thedesired alcohol prior to reaction.33 Pyrazolines can also be oxidized bymild treatment with N-halo-succinimides or halogens34 to yield the halopyrazolines (15), which can be fragmented to produce the halo-tiglianes(16). The halogen functionality is then reduced by exposure to reducingagents such as tin hydrides27 to produce novel 12,13-dideoxytiglianes(17)—which like the analogous ingenanes lacking oxygen at C12 and C13are of interest for their anticancer activity. The pyrazolines have alsobeen known to undergo reaction with selenyl chlorides, to produceselenyl pyrazoles 19, and ultimately lead to 13-selenyl tiglianes 19.Pyrazoline oxidation can also be effected with alkyl peroxides, orperoxy acids.

The same methodology could be applied to the formation of tosylpyrazolines 21 (FIG. 13), which upon reaction with trialkylaluminumreagents, 27 would lead to alkyl pyrazolines35 and subsequently to13-alkyl tiglianes. The methodology could be expanded to include otherheteroatom nucleophiles, including sulfur, nitrogen or selenium to giveaccess to other 13-heteroatom-substituted tiglianes.37 Hydrocyanationcan also be affected, ultimately giving rise to 13-alkyl tiglianes.

The intermediate substituted, kinetically stable pyrazolines (such as11, in FIG. 12) upon deprotection at C-20 could be used asphoto-activatable prodrugs. The pyrazoline is not biologically activebut can be converted to the biologically active C13 substitutedtiglianes upon exposure to UV light (FIG. 14). In addition to directmedicinal applications, attachment of fluorescent probes to thesephoto-activatable compounds may lead to the discovery of new tools forprobing signaling pathways related to HIV and other diseases.

The above described methodology can be readily applied to the synthesisof various biologically active compounds as exemplified by thesemisynthesis of prostratin from phorbol (FIG. 7) or crotophorbolone(FIG. 8). The synthetic material so obtained is identicalspectroscopically to an authentic sample of the natural product obtainedfrom natural sources. (See EXAMPLE 4 below). We have also applied thissynthesis to a number of other analogs, including12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP).

This methodology provides a new and scalable procedure to supply agents,e.g., prostratin, related 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate, and manyother structural and functional analogs, as needed for preclinical andclinical development and eventual human therapeutic use. In addition,this methodology provides access to compounds that cannot be accessed bynatural product isolation, allowing for control and optimization of thefactors that would provide for superior therapeutic activity.

Table 1 shows a comparison of the current isolation method of prostratinto the inventive semi-synthetic methods to obtain prostratin.

TABLE 1 Two methods to obtain prostratin and its analogs Currentisolation method New semi-synthetic method Natural Stemwood ofHomalanthus Croton oil (from the seed of source nutans (Samoan mamalaCroton tiglium) tree) Availability Only in Samoa Croton tiglium iswidely of the available in India, China, source and Sri Lanka Croton oilis commercially available in multi-kilogram quantities Process 1extraction from natural 5-7 steps from Croton oil source 3chromatographic 3 chromatographic purifications purifications Yield0.0013% (15 mg from 1.05 ~0.1% from Croton oil kg of stemwood, varies(~10-20% from phorbol) significantly between samples) Sustain- The treeis harvested and Croton tiglium seed can ability sacrificed be harvestedannually without sacrificing the organism¹⁴ (900 kg seeds/ha)Flexibility Only prostratin is Amenable to many other available naturaland unnatural phorbol estersUtility and Administration

Administration of the active compounds and salts described herein can bevia any of the accepted modes of administration for therapeutic agents.These methods include oral, parenteral, transdermal, subcutaneous andother systemic modes. In some instances it may be necessary toadminister the composition parenterally.

Depending on the intended mode, the compositions may be in the form ofsolid, semi-solid or liquid dosage forms, such as, for example, tablets,suppositories, pills, capsules, powders, liquids, suspensions, skinpatch, or the like, preferably in unit dosage forms suitable for singleadministration of precise dosages. The compositions will include aconventional pharmaceutical excipient and an active compound of formulaI or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and, in addition, mayinclude other medicinal agents, pharmaceutical agents, carriers,adjuvants, diluents, etc.

The amount of active compound administered will, of course, be dependenton the subject being treated, the severity of the affliction, the mannerof administration and the judgment of the prescribing physician.However, an effective dosage is in the range of 0.001-100 mg/kg/day,preferably 0.005-5 mg/kg/day. For an average 70 kg human, this wouldamount to 0.007-7000 mg per day, or preferably 0.05-350 mg/day.Alternatively, the administration of compounds as described by L. C.Fritz et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,969 is followed. One of skill in theart with this disclosure can create an effective pharmaceuticalformulation.

For solid compositions, conventional non-toxic solid include, forexample, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesiumstearate, sodium saccharin, talcum, cellulose, glucose, sucrose,magnesium carbonate, and the like may be used. The active compound asdefined above may be formulated as suppositories using, for example,polyalkylene glycols, for example, propylene glycol, as the carrier.Liquid pharmaceutically administrable compositions can, for example, beprepared by dissolving, dispersing, etc. an active compound as definedabove and optional pharmaceutical adjuvants in a excipient, such as, forexample, water, saline, aqueous dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, and thelike, to thereby form a solution or suspension. If desired, thepharmaceutical composition to be administered may also contain minoramounts of nontoxic auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifyingagents, pH buffering agents and the like, for example, sodium acetate,sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamine sodium acetate, triethanolamineoleate, etc. Actual methods of preparing such dosage forms are known, orwill be apparent, to those skilled in this art; for example, seeRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton,Pa., 17th Edition, 1985. The composition or formulation to beadministered will, in any event, contain a quantity of the activecompound(s), a therapeutically effective amount, i.e., in an amounteffective to alleviate the symptoms of the subject being treated.

For oral administration, a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxiccomposition is formed by the incorporation of any of the normallyemployed excipients, such as, for example pharmaceutical grades ofmannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, talcum,cellulose, glucose, sucrose, magnesium, carbonate, and the like. Suchcompositions take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills,capsules, powders, sustained release formulations and the like. Suchcompositions may contain 10%-95% active ingredient, preferably 1-70%.

Parenteral administration is generally characterized by injection,either subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously. Injectables canbe prepared in conventional forms, either as liquid solutions orsuspensions, solid forms suitable for solution or suspension in liquidprior to injection, or as emulsions. Suitable excipients are, forexample, water, saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol or the like. Inaddition, if desired, the pharmaceutical compositions to be administeredmay also contain minor amounts of non-toxic auxiliary substances such aswetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents and the like, such asfor example, sodium acetate, sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamineoleate, etc.

A more recently devised approach for parenteral administration employsthe implantation or skin patch for a slow-release or sustained-releasesystem, such that a constant level of dosage is maintained. See. e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,795, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The following preparations and examples serve to illustrate theinvention. They should not be construed as narrowing it, or limiting itsscope in any way.

EXPERIMENTAL General Methods

Unless otherwise specified, all reactions were carried out in anoven-dried (>110° C.) round-bottom flask equipped with a Teflon™ coatedmagnetic stir bar and a rubber septum under a positive pressure ofargon. Sensitive solvents and reagents were transferred by syringe orstainless steel cannula. Reactions were run at 20° C. unless otherwisenoted.

Unless otherwise specified, reaction temperatures refer to the externaltemperatures of the bath in which the reaction vessel was partiallyimmersed. The term “0° C.” refers to an ice water bath.

The terms “removal of the solvent in vacuo” and “concentration” refer toevaporation of solvent using a Buchi rotary evaporator equipped with avacuum pump. Residual solvents were removed from nonvolatile samplesusing a vacuum line held at 0.1-1.0 mg.

Reagents and Solvents

The starting material compounds, solvents, reagents, etc. describedherein are available from commercial sources or are easily prepared fromliterature references by one of skill in the art. See Chem Sources USA,published annually by Directories Publications, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.Also see The Aldrich Chemical Company Catalogue, Milwaukee, Wis. Thestarting materials are used as obtained unless otherwise noted.Dichloromethane and toluene were passed through an alumina drying-column(Solvtek, Inc.). Pyridine and diisopropylmethane were distilled fromcalcium hydride under nitrogen. Denatured chloroform was passed througha pad of basic alumina and stored over anhydrous potassium.

Chromatography

Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed by using glassor aluminum-backed silica plates coated with a 0.25 mm thickness ofsilica gel 60 F₂₅₄ (Merck), visualized with an ultraviolet light,followed by exposure to p-anisaldehyde solution, potassium permanganatesolution, or ceric ammonium molybdate solution and heating.

The term “flash column chromatography” refers to column chromatographyusing Merck silica gel 60 (230-400 mesh) as described by Still et al.,“Rapid chromatographic technique for preparative separations withmrioderate resolution”, J. Org. Chem., 43, 2923-2925 (1978). The eluentcomposition is indicated following the description of purification(percentage of the more polar solvent in the less polar solvent). Thesize of the column, the amount of silica gel loaded and the volume ofeluent required for packing and elution were chosen based on the methoddescribed by Still.

Physical and Spectroscopic Data

Optical rotations were measured on a JASCO DIP-360 digital polarimeterusing solutions in indicated solvents. All values are reported in thefollowing format: [α]_(D) (temperature of measurement)=specific rotation(concentration of the solution reported in units of 10 mg sample per 1mL solvent, solvent used).

Proton and Carbon NMR spectra were measured on either a VarianMercury-400 (¹H at 400 MHz, ¹³C at 100 MHz) or a Varian INOVA-500 (¹H at500 MHz, ¹³C at 125 MHz) magnetic resonance spectrometer. ¹H chemicalshifts are reported in parts per million (ppm) using residual CHCl₃ (δ7.24) as the internal standard, coupling constants are reported in Hertz(Hz). Proton (¹H) NMR information is tabulated in the following format:multiplicity, number of protons, coupling constant, and structuralassignments (in the format of “carbon-numbering-H” (the natural productnumbering system is used)). Multiplicities are reported as follows:s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet, q=quartet, sept=septet, dd=doublet ofdoublets, td=triplet of doublets, ddd=doublet of doublet of doublets,m=multiplet. Proton decoupled ¹³C NMR spectra are reported in ppm (δ)relative to residual CHCl₃ (δ 77.0) unless noted otherwise.

Infrared spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer Spectrum BX FourierTransform Spectrometer using neat material on a NaCl plate. All valuesare reported in wavenumbers (cm⁻¹) and are externally referenced topolystyrene film (1601 cm⁻¹). High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) wererecorded at the NIH regional mass spectrometry facility at theUniversity of California, San Francisco, or at the Vincent CoatesFoundation Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at Stanford University.

Example 1 Generation of Enol Acetate

Phorbol-12-acetate-C-20 trityl ether, S1, (300 mg, 462 μmol) in freshlydistilled pyridine (4.6 mL) was stirred under argon and mesyl chloride(55 μL, 1.5 eq) was added. The reaction mixture was heated to 60° C. for1.5 hr, at which time complete consumption of the starting material wasnoted by TLC. The mixture was allowed to cool, diluted with ethylacetate (100 mL), and washed with brine (2×20 mL). The organic phase wasseparated, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered to remove the drying agent andthen concentrated in vacuo. The residue was subjected to flashchromatography (40-80% EtOAc/pentane, ˜25 g silica, ID 25 mm) to givethe product S2 as an off-white foam (220 mg, 76%).

TLC R_(f)=0.76 (40% EtOAc/Pentane), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp);

[α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+61.3° (c 0.61, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.56 (br s, 1H, C1-H), 7.42-7.20 (m, 15H,Ar—H), 5.66 (br s, 1H, C7-H), 5.04 (s, 1H), 5.00 (s, 1H), 4.96 (s, 1H),3.41 (m, 3H), 3.26 (m, 1H), 3.20 (br s, 1H), 2.42 (d, J=19 Hz, 1H), 2.36(s, 1H), 2.17 (br s, 1H), 2.14 (br s, 1H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 1.80 (dd,J=1.2, 2.7 Hz, 3H), 1.65 (s, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.32 Hz, 3H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 208.9, 169.8, 159.7, 147.4, 144.1 (3),142.5, 136.8, 135.4, 128.6 (6), 127.8 (6), 126.9 (3), 124.8, 121.2,116.6, 86.8, 76.7, 73.5, 68.8, 55.0, 48.9, 42.8, 39.4, 37.1, 20.6, 17.9,16.8, 10.2

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3425, 3058, 2921, 1704 (br), 1448, 1372, 1218, 758cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 653.2879 (for C₄₁H₄₂O₆Na). found: 653.2878

Example 2 Production of the Intermediate Acetoxypyrazoline

The enolacetate S2 (92 mg, 146 μmol) in methanol (1.5 mL) was stirredwhile K₂CO₃ (30 mg, 1.5 eq.) was added in a single portion. After 30minutes of vigorous stirring consumption of the starting material andcomplete conversion to ketone S3 was noted. Acetic acid (33 μL, 4 eq)and hydrazine hydrate (11 μL, 1.5 eq.) were added. The reaction wasallowed to stir for an additional 1 hour and monitored by TLC (100%EtOAc). Generation of the hydrazone intermediate S4 is indicated by theformation of a large, green baseline spot (PA Stain). Once the formationof the hydrazone is complete, basic alumina (500 mg) and EtOAc (15 mL)were added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was filtered through apad of CELITE® and concentrated. The off-white hydrazone solid wasredissolved in toluene (2.0 mL) and DIPEA (200 μL) in a sealed tube. Thesolution was degassed (freeze-pump-thaw, 3 times) and flushed withargon. The reaction vessel was capped and heated to 150° C. for 13 hoursand allowed to cool. The volatiles were removed under reduced pressure,and the vessel was back-filled with argon. (The pyrazoline S5 must behandled under inert atmosphere to avoid rapid oxidation by air). Thecrude was redissolved in dichloromethane (1.5 mL) and cooled to 0° C.Lead (IV) acetate (67 mg, 1.1 eq.) was added in a single portion. Thereaction was allowed to stir 30 minutes, quenched with NaHCO₃ (aq.,sat., 3 mL), and extracted with dichloromethane (5×5 mL). The combinedorganic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered to remove the dryingagent, and concentrated. The residue was subjected to flashchromatography (0 to 40% EtOAc in pentane, ID 25 mm, ˜25 g silica) andconcentrated to give the product S6 as a light yellow oil (38.7 mg,40.2%). Physical analysis showed:

TLC R_(f)=0.47 (50% EtOAc/Pentane), one purple spot in p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp); [α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+60.7° (c 1.00, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.52 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H C1-H), 7.40-7.43 (m,5H, Ar—H), 7.26-7.31 (m, 5H, Ar—H), 7.22-7.25 (m, 5H, Ar—H), 5.62 (d,J=3.4 Hz, 1H, C7-H), 3.50 (s, 2H, C20-H), 3.28 (dd, 1H, J=4.9 Hz, 12.1Hz, 1H, C8-H), 2.95 (s, 1H, C10-H), 2.47-2.53 (m, 2H, C11-H and C5-H),2.36 (d, 1H, C14-H), 2.18 (d, 1H, J=19.3 Hz, C5-H), 2.14 (d, 1H, J=16.1Hz, C12-H), 2.13 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃), 2.09 (s, 1H, OH), 2.07 (s, 1H, OH),1.80 (dd, 3H, J=1.4 Hz, 2.8 Hz, C19-H), 1.68 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.52 (dd,1H, 8.9 Hz, 14.5 Hz, C12-H), 1.34 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.23 (d, 3H, J=7.3Hz) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 208.41, 168.80, 157.07, 144.02, 138.42,136.97, 128.64 (6C), 127.94 (6C), 127.20 (3C), 125.89 (3C), 119.40,92.94, 87.03, 77.85, 73.76, 68.72, 57.33, 45.10, 40.20, 39.36, 35.93,31.66, 27.89, 22.57, 22.09, 18.13, 10.46 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3411, 2972, 2933, 1746, 1705, 1650, 1596, 1448,1236, 1030, 910, 732 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 683.3097 (for C₄₁H₄₄N₂O₆Na). found: 683.3093

Example 3 Removal of Trityl Protecting Group

A solution of S6 (5.0 mg, 7.6 μmol) in methanol (750 μL) was stirred atroom temperature under air. HClO₄ (70% in H₂O, 7.5 μL) was added, andthe reaction was allowed to stir for 20 min. The mixture was neutralizedby the addition of NaHCO₃ (solid, 20 mg) and stirred for 10 minutes. Thecrude mixture was filtered through CELITE® and the volatiles wereremoved under reduced pressure. The residue was subjected to flashchromatography (100% ethyl acetate, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give S7 asa white solid (2.9 mg, 90%). Physical measurement showed:

TLC R_(f)=0.08 (100% EtOAc), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde (visibleunder UV lamp); [α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+45.6° (c 0.34, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.51 (s, 1H, C1-H), 5.50 (d, J=3.9 Hz, 1H,C7-H), 4.04 (d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H, C20-H), 4.02 (d, J=13.1 Hz, 1H, C20-H),3.25 (dd, J=4.9, 11.7 Hz. 1H, C8-H), 3.03 (br s, 1H, C10-H), 2.55-2.49(m, 2H, C11-H and C5-H), 2.42 (d, J=19.2 Hz, 1H, C5-H), 2.34 (d, J=12.0Hz, 1H, C14-H), 2.16 (br s, 1H, OH), 2.12 (s, 3H, CH3COO), 1.83 (dd,J=1.5, 2.8 Hz, 3H, C19-H), 1.80 (br s, 1H, OH), 1.62 (s, 3H, gem-Me),1.56 (dd, J 8.9, 14.5 Hz, 1H, C12-H), 1.27 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.23 (d,J=7.3 Hz, 3H, C18-H).

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ208.6, 169.0, 157.3, 140.7, 137.1, 127.0,119.3, 93.1, 78.2, 73.9, 68.3, 57.3, 45.3, 40.3, 38.9, 36.0, 32.0, 28.1,22.8, 22.2, 18.3, 10.6 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3405, 1969, 2924, 1737, 1705, 1381, 1366, 1432,1030, 755 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: (for C₂₂H₃₀N₂O₆Na): 441.2002. Found: 441.2008

Example 4 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of the S7 (2.9 mg, 6.9 μmol) in benzene/EtOAc (1:1, 600 μL)was placed in a disposable glass vial under argon atmosphere. Thesolution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using a Rayonetphotochemical reactor at room temperature for 20 min until TLC indicatedcomplete consumption of the starting material. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated under reduced pressure and the resultant syrup was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (80% ethyl acetate/pentane, ID 8 mm,˜1 g silica) to afford 12-deoxyphorbol-13-acetate (prostratin) as awhite powder (2.5 mg, 92%).

On a preparative scale, a solution of S7 (142 mg, 0.387 mmol) inmethanol (76 mL) was placed in a round-bottom flask under argonatmosphere. The solution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using aRayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature for 11 h. The reactionmixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the resultant syrupwas purified by flash column chromatography (100% ethyl acetate) toafford prostratin (69 mg) and recovered S7 (49 mg). The recoveredmaterial was subjected to the previously described photolysis conditionto afford addition 32 mg of prostratin and recovered S7 (15 mg) afterflash chromatography. The total amount of obtained prostratin is 101 mg(67% yield, 74% based on the recovered starting material). The analysisof the product showed the following properties:

TLC R_(f)=0.27 (60% EtOAc/Pentane), one black spot stained withp-anisaldehyde (visible under UV lamp);

[α]D^(23.5)=+69.0° (c 0.16, MeOH)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, in 0.75 ml of CDCl₃ exchanged with 10 μl of D₂O):

7.59 (s, 1H, C1-H), 5.66 (d, 1H, J=5.0 Hz, C7-H), 4.02 (d, 1H, J=12.6Hz, C20-H), 3.96 (d, 1H, J=12.5 Hz, C20-H), 3.26 (t, 1H, J=2.6 Hz,C10-H), 2.99 (t, 1H, J=5.3 Hz, C8-H), 2.51 (d, 1H, J=9.5 Hz, C5-H), 2.45(d, 1H, J=8.9 Hz, C5-H), 2.07 (dd, 1H, J=7.1 Hz, 14.5 Hz, C12-H), 2.06(s, 3H, OCOCH₃), 1.95-1.99 (m, 1H, C11-H), 1.77 (dd, 3H, J=2.3 Hz, 3.8Hz, C19-H), 1.56 (dd, 1H, J=11.3 Hz, 14.6 Hz, C12-H), 1.19 (s, 3H,C16-H), 1.06 (s, 3H, C17-H), 0.88 (d, 3H, 6.4 Hz, C18-H), 0.84 (d, 1H,J=5.3 Hz, C14-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, d₆-benzene):

208.4, 172.7, 160.7, 140.5, 132.9, 129.8, 76.1, 73.9, 68.0, 63.8, 56.2,39.5, 38.8, 36.7, 32.9, 32.4, 23.3, 22.7, 20.7, 18.9, 15.5, 10.1 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3391, 2921, 1708, 1262 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 413.1940, (for C₂₂H₃₀O₆Na). Found: 413.1946

The analytical data for the synthetic material described below matchesthose for an authentic sample of prostratin. (An authentic sample ofprostratin (cat. No. P-4462, Lot BS-112) was purchased from LClaboratories, Woburn, Mass.)

Characterization was obtained as described above. See Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison Chart for Prostratin characterization data ¹H-NMR(500 MHz) ¹³C-NMR (125 MHz) Carbon Synthetic Authentic SyntheticAuthentic 1 7.59 (br s) 7.59 (br s) 160.7 160.7 2 132.9 132.9 3 208.4208.4 4 73.9 73.9 5 2.51 (d, J = 2.51 (d, J = 38.8 38.8 9.5 Hz) 2.45 8.9Hz) (d, J = 2.45 (d, J = 8.9 Hz) 8.9 Hz) 6 140.5 140.4 7 5.66 (d, J =5.66 (d, J = 129.8 129.8 5.0 Hz) 5.0 Hz) 8 2.99 (t, J = 3.00 (t, J =39.5 39.5 5.3 Hz) 5.3 Hz) 9 76.1 76.1 10 3.26 (t, J = 3.26 (t, J = 56.256.2 2.6 Hz) 2.7 Hz) 11 1.95-1.99 (m) 1.95-1.99 (m) 36.7 36.7 12 1.56(dd, J = 1.56 (dd, J = 32.4 32.4 11.3 Hz, 14.6 11.3 Hz, 14.7 Hz) 2.07(dd, Hz) 2.07 (dd, J = 7.1 Hz, J = 6.8 Hz, 14.5 Hz) 14.5 Hz) 13 63.863.8 14 0.84 (d, J = 0.84 (d, J = 32.9 32.9 5.3 Hz) 5.2 Hz) 15 22.7 22.716 1.19 (s, 3H) 1.19 (s, 3H) 23.3 23.3 17 1.06 (s, 3H) 1.06 (s, 3H) 15.515.5 18 0.88 (d, 3H, 0.88 (d, 3H, 18.9 18.9 6.4 Hz) 6.5 Hz) 19 1.77 (dd,3H, 1.77 (dd, J = 10.1 10.1 J = 1.3 Hz, 1.2 Hz, 1.7 Hz) 2.8 Hz) 20 4.02(d, J = 4.02 (d, J = 68.0 68.0 12.6 Hz) 12.7 Hz) 3.96 (d, J = 3.96 (d, J= 12.5 Hz) 12.6 Hz) 21 172.7 172.7 22 2.06 (s, 3H) 2.06 (s, 3H) 20.720.7

Example 5 Phorbol to Prostratin, Alternate Route

The acetoxypyrazoline S6 (10 mg, 0.015 mmol) was dissolved in d₆-benzene(0.75 ml) in a septum-capped NMR tube under nitrogen atmosphere. Thesolution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using a Rayonetphotochemical reactor at room temperature for 20 min until TLC indicatedcomplete consumption of the starting material. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated under reduced pressure and the resultant syrup was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (10%→30% ethyl acetate/pentane, ID25 mm, ˜25 g silica) to afford S8 as a pale yellow film (7.7 mg, 81%yield). The product was identified by:

TLC R_(f)=0.75 (50% EtOAc/Pentane), one grey spot in p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp); [α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+41.4° (c 0.77, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.59 (s, 1H, C10-H), 7.41-7.43 (m, 6H, Ar—H),7.27-7.30 (m, 6H, Ar—H), 7.20-7.22 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 5.62 (d, 1H, J=4.0 Hz,C7-H), 5.23 (brs, 1H, OH), 3.51 (s, 2H, C20-H), 3.27 (brs, 1H, C10-H),2.93 (t, 1H, J=5.1 Hz, C8-H), 2.51 (d, 1H, J=8.8 Hz, C5-H), 2.39 (d, 1H,J=8.8 Hz, C5-H), 2.06 (s, 3H, OCOCH₃), 2.05 (s, 1H, OH), 2.02-2.08 (m,1H, C12-H), 1.99 (d, 1H, J=1.0 Hz, C20-OH), 1.92-1.97 (m, 1H, C11-H),1.77 (dd, 3H, J=1.2 Hz, 2.8 Hz, C19-H), 1.56 (m, 1H, C12-H), 1.19 (s,3H, gem-diMe), 1.07 (s, 3H, gem-diMe), 0.87 (d, 3H, J=6.4 Hz, C18-H),0.82 (d, 1H, J=5.2 Hz, C14-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 209.5, 173.4, 161.6, 144.3, 137.7, 132.9,130.9, 129.0, 128.0, 127.2, 87.1, 76.0, 74.2, 69.6, 63.9, 56.0, 39.6,39.5, 36.6, 32.6, 32.1, 23.5, 22.9, 21.6, 18.8, 15.61, 10.4 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3417, 2917, 1709, 1626, 1448, 1259, 1051, 705 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: (for C₄₁H₄₄O₆Na): 655.3036. Found: 655.3033

Example 6 Removal of Trityl Protecting Group, Alternate Route

The trityl ether (7.0 mg, 0.011 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (1.0 ml)in a Teflon-capped vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar under nitrogenatmosphere. Perchloric acid (10 μl) was added via a syringe dropwiseover 5 sec, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minuntil TLC indicated complete consumption of the starting material. Solidsodium bicarbonate (100 mg) was added to neutralize the reactionmixture, and the resultant suspension was stirred at ambient temperaturefor 5 min. Ethyl acetate (10 ml) was added to the reaction mixture, andthe mixture was filtered through CELITE® to remove the solid residue.The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the resultantsyrup was purified by silica gel flash chromatography (40%→60% ethylacetate/petroleum ether) to obtain a colorless film. Forcharacterization purposes, this product was further purified byreverse-phase HPLC and lyophilized to obtain prostratin a white powder(1.6 mg, 36% yield), which was identical in all respects to an authenticsample, as above.

Example 7 An Alternative Protecting Group-Free Route to Prostratin

A solution of crotophorbolone (21.2 mg, 54.3 μmol) in methanol (5 mL)was stirred at room temperature under air. Acetic acid (18 μL, 5 equiv.)and hydrazine hydrate (6 μL, 2 equiv.) were added. The reaction wasallowed to stir until the consumption of starting material was noted byTLC (100% Ethyl Acetate), 1 hour. Basic alumina (1 g) and ethyl acetate(10 mL) were added. The slurry was allowed to stir for 10 minutes atambient temperature. The crude was passed through a pad of celite (1 g)and concentrated in vacuo. The crude was redissolved in pyridine (900μL) and DIPEA (100 μL) and transferred to a Teflon-capped resealablepressure tube. The solution was sparged with bubbling argon for 10minutes and the tube was sealed. The mixture was heated to 150° C. for48 hr. Once the reaction was deemed complete by TLC (30% MeOH in EtOAc),the solvent was removed in vacuo, and the vessel was backfilled withargon to avoid air oxidation of the sensitive pyrazoline (S) (A. L.Baumstrak, M. Dotrong, P. C. Vasquez, Tetrahedron Lett. 28, 1963-1966(1987)). The crude was redissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) and cooled to 0° C.A solution of Pb(OAc)₄ (30 mg, 1.1 equiv.) in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) was added tothe pyrazoline at 0° C., and allowed to stir for 30 minutes. Thereaction was stopped by addition of NaHCO₃ (3 mL), and extracted withEtOAc (4×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ (s)and concentrated. The crude was subjected to flash chromatography togive diazene S7 as an off white foam (10.9 mg, 43%). The analytical datamatch those given in EXAMPLE 3.

Example 8 Phorbol to DPP

A solution of substrate S2 (15.2 mg, 24 μmol) was stirred in methanol(240 μL) under air at room temperature. K₂CO₃ (6 mg, 2 eq.) was added ina single portion. After stirring vigorously for 30 min, completeconversion to ketone S3 was observed by TLC. Acetic acid (5 μL, 5 eq)and hydrazine hydrate (4 μL, 5 eq.) were added, and the reaction wasallowed to stir for 1 hour and monitored by TLC (100% ethyl acetate, PAStain). Following complete consumption of the starting material, basicalumina (100 mg) was added, and the reaction was diluted with ethylacetate (5.0 mL). The mixture was passed through a pad of CELITE® withethyl acetate rinse (5 mL). The organic solvent was removed underreduced pressure to give the crude hydrazone S4 as an off-white solid.The solid was resuspended in a mixture of toluene/DIPEA (9:1, 2 mL) in aTeflon-capped sealed tube under argon. The mixture was heated to 150° C.for 16 hours. After cooling, the solvent was removed under reducedpressure, and the vessel backfilled with argon. Exposure of the crudepyrazoline S5 to air must be avoided. The crude was redissolved indichloromethane (1 mL), and a pre-mixed solution of Pb(OAc)₄ (1.2 eq.)and phenylacetic acid (20 eq.) in dichloromethane (3 mL, pre-mixed for30 min at ambient temperature) was added at 0° C. The reaction wasallowed to warm to room temperature over one hour, quenched with aqueousNaHCO₃ (sat., 3 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×5 mL). Thecombined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered to removedrying agent, and concentrated. The residue was subjected to flashchromatography (60% ethyl acetate in pentane, ID 25 mm, ˜25 g silica) togive S9 as a white foam (8.1 mg, 46%). The product was identified by:

TLC R_(f)=0.25 (50% EtOAc/Pentane), one purple spot in p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp); [α]_(D) ^(2.35)=+25.6° (c 0.53, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.43-8.46 (m, 17H, Ar—H, C1-H), 7.24-7.20 (m,4H, Ar—H), 5.56 (d, J=3.5 Hz, 1H, C7-H), 3.71 (s, 2H PhCH2COO—), 3.47(s, 2H, C20-H), 3.23 (dd, J=5, 12.2 Hz, 1H, C8-H), 2.90 (br s, 1H,C10-H), 2.52-2.42 (m, 2H, C11-H, C5-H), 2.33 (d, J=11.6 Hz, 1H, C14-H),2.16 (d, J=19.2 Hz, 1H, C5-H), 2.05 (br d, J=14.5 Hz, C12-H), 2.00 (s,1H, OH) 1.79 (dd, J=1.3, 2.7 Hz, 3H, C19-H), 1.72 (s, 1H, OH), 1.65 (s,3H, gem-Me), 1.45 (dd, J=8.9, 14.4 Hz, 1H, C12-H), 1.31 (s, 3H, gem-Me),0.92 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 3H, C18-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 208.4, 169.1, 157.0, 143.9, 138.1, 136.8,133.2, 129.3 (2), 128.9 (2), 128.5 (6), 127.8 (6), 127.4, 127.1 (3),125.9 (3), 93.0, 86.9, 77.7, 73.6, 68.7, 57.1, 44.8, 42.3, 40.0, 39.3,35.8, 31.3, 27.8, 22.5, 17.5, 10.3 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3418, 2967, 2923, 1745, 1708, 1448, 1222, 1051, 706cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: (for C₄₇H₄₈N₂O₆Na): 759.3410. Found: 759.3415

Example 9 Removal of Trityl Protecting Group

A solution of S9 (12.2 mg, 16.6 μmol) in MeOH (1.0 mL) was stirred atroom temperature, and HClO₄ (70% in H₂O, 10 μL) was added. The reactionwas allowed to stir at ambient temperature for 1 hr until TLC indicatedcomplete consumption of the starting material. The mixture wasneutralized by addition of solid NaHCO₃ (20 mg), diluted with EtOAc (5mL) and filtered through a pad of CELITE®. The crude filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flashchromatography (100% EtOAc, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to provide the S10 asa white powder (6.5 mg, 80%). The product was identified by:

TLC R_(f)=0.20 (100% EtOAc), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde (visibleunder UV lamp); [α]_(D) ²³=5+30.9° (c 0.29, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.44-7.27 (m, 6H, Ar—H, C1-H), 5.47 (d, J=3.8Hz, 1H, C7-H), 4.01 (dd, J=13, 22 Hz, 2H, C20-H), 3.65 (s, 2H,PhCH₂COO), 3.21 (dd, J=4.1, 11.4 Hz, 1H, C8-H), 2.98 (br s, 1H, C10-H),2.53-2.39 (m, 2H, C11-H and C5-H), 2.32 (d, J=11.9 Hz, 1H, C5-H), 2.11(br s, 1H, C14-H), 2.05 (d, J=14.5 Hz, C12-H), 1.92 (br s, 1H, OH), 1.81(s, 3H, C19-H), 1.59 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.46 (dd, J=9.2, 14.7 Hz, C12-H),1.23 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 0.91 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 3H, C18-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 216.7, 208.3, 169.1, 156.9, 140.2, 136.8,133.1, 129.3 (2), 128.9 (2), 127.5, 126.8, 119.5, 93.0, 77.8, 73.6,68.1, 56.9, 44.8, 42.4, 40.0, 38.6, 35.8, 31.4, 27.8, 22.5, 17.4, 10.3ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3400, 2972, 2928, 1707 (br), 1630, 1253, 1148, 1020cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: (for C₂₈H₃₄N₂O₆Na): 517.2315. Found: 517.2309

Example 10 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of S10 (5.4 mg, 10.9 μmol) in benzene/EtOAc (1:1, 1 mL) wasstirred at room temperature in a disposable glass vial flushed withargon. The solution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using aRayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature for 45 min. until TLCindicated complete consumption of the starting material. The reactionmixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flash(100% EtOAc, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP) as a white powder (4.4 mg, 87%).The product was characterized by:

TLC R_(f)=0.45 (100% EtOAc), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde (visibleunder UV lamp)

[α]_(D) ²³=5+35.7° (c 0.44, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃ after D₂O shake): δ 7.57 (br s, 1H, C1-H),7.35-7.24 (m, 5H, Ar—H), 5.63 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 1H, C7-H), 4.02 (d, J=12.8Hz, 1H, C20-H), 3.94 (d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H, C20-H) 3.62 (d, J=14.7 Hz, 1H,CH2Ph), 3.58 (d, J=14.7 Hz, 1H, CH2Ph), 3.24 (dd, J=2.7, 2.7 Hz, 1H,C10-H), 2.94 (m, 1H, C8-H), 2.50 (d, J=19 Hz, 1H, C5-H), 2.43 (d, J=19Hz, 1H, C5-H), 3.07 (dd, J=7.0, 14.0 Hz, 1H, C12-H), 1.99-1.95 (m, 1H,C11-H), 1.76 (dd, J=1.4, 2.9 Hz, 3H, C19-H), 1.54 (dd, J=11.1, 14.5 Hz,1H, C12-H), 1.03 (br s, 6H, C16-H and C17-H), 0.86 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 3H,C18-H), 0.75 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H, C14-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 209.4, 173.6, 161.4, 139.8, 133.2, 132.8,130.2, 129.3 (2), 128.6 (2), 127.3, 76.1, 73.7, 68.2, 64.0, 55.7, 41.7,39.1, 38.6, 36.3, 32.4, 31.7, 23.0, 22.9, 18.5, 15.3, 10.1 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3399, 2921, 1707, 1625, 1455, 1246, 1133, 1015cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: (for C₂₈H₃₄O₆Na): 489.2253. Found: 489.2256

Example 11 An Alternative Protecting Group-Free Route from Phorbol toDPP

A solution of crotophorbolone (2) (18.8 mg, 54.3 μmol) in methanol (5mL) was stirred at room temperature under air. Acetic acid (15 μL, 5equiv.) and hydrazine hydrate (5 μL, 2 equiv.) were added. The reactionwas allowed to stir until the consumption of starting material was notedby TLC (100% ethyl acetate), 1 hour. Basic alumina (1 g) and ethylacetate (10 mL) were added. The slurry was allowed to stir for 10minutes at ambient temperature. The reaction mixture was passed througha pad of celite (1 g) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue wasredissolved in pyridine (2 mL) and DIPEA (200 μL) and transferred to aTeflon-capped resealable pressure tube. The solution was sparged withbubbling argon for 10 minutes and the tube was sealed. The mixture washeated to 160° C. for 48 h. Once the reaction was deemed complete by TLC(30% MeOH in EtOAc), the solvent was removed in vacuo, and the vesselwas backfilled with argon to avoid air oxidation of the sensitivepyrazoline. The residue was redissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) and cooled to0° C. A pre-mixed solution of Pb(OAc)₄ (30 mg, 1.2 equiv.) andphenylacetic acid (370 mg, 50 equiv.) (mixed for 1 h prior to addition)in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) was added to the pyrazoline at 0° C., and allowed tostir for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate(80 mL) and washed with NaHCO₃ (sat.) (3×5 mL), and brine (1×5 mL). Theorganic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue wassubjected to flash chromatography (90% ethyl acetate/pentane) to givediazene S10 as an off white foam (9.3 mg, 35%), and the C13 acetatederivative (1.1 mg, 5%). The analytical data for S10 match those givenin EXAMPLE 9.

Example 12 Crotophorbolone to Ether Analogs

A solution of crotophorbolone (40 mg, 0.115 mmol) was dissolved inmethanol (3 mL) under argon atmosphere in a round-bottom flask equippedwith a magnetic stir bar. Acetic acid (32 μL, 5 equiv.) and hydrazinehydrate (11 μL, 2 eq) were added dropwise over 5 seconds respectively inthis order, and the reaction mixture was stir for 1 h at roomtemperature. Additional AcOH (10 μL) and hydrazine hydrate (5 μL) wereadded respectively, and the mixture was stirred for 1 h until TLCindicated complete consumption of the starting material and theformation of a hydrazone (a green spot on the baseline, eluted with 100%EtOAc, stained with p-anisaldehyde). Basic alumina (400 mg) was added,and the heterogeneous mixture was vigorously stirred for 10 minutes. Themixture was filtered through a pad of celite, and the filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude hydrazone. The crudehydrazone was re-suspended in a mixture of pyridine/DIPEA (5 mL, 9:1,v/v) in a Teflon-capped sealed tube under argon and heated to 150° C.for 18 h. After cooling, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure,and the vessel was backfilled with argon. Exposure of the crudepyrazoline to air must be avoided. The crude residue was redissolved indry ethanol (3 mL), and a pre-mixed solution of PhI(OAc)₂ (55 mg, 1.5equiv.) in ethanol (1 mL, pre-mixed for 30 min at room temperature) wasadded dropwise over 30 seconds at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C.for 30 min until TLC indicated complete consumption of the pyrazoline.The reaction was quenched with aqueous NaHCO₃ (2 mL) and aqueous Na₂S₂O₃(2 mL), and was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×3 mL). The combinedorganic layers were washed with brine, and the aqueous phase wasback-extracted with ethyl acetate (2×2 mL). The combined organic phaseswere concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified bysilica gel flash chromatography (40→60% ethyl acetate/pentane) to givediazenes S11a (4.2 mg, 9%) and S11b (7.0 mg, 15%) as colorless foams.

Data for S11a (Lower Rf Isomer)

TLC R_(f)=0.43 (100% EtOAc/petroleum ether), one purple spot stained byp-anisaldehyde (visible under UV lamp)

[α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+111.5° (c 0.11, MeOH)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.56 (s, 1H, C1-H), 5.75 (d, 1H, J=6.5 Hz,C7-H), 4.09 (d, 1H, J=13.0 Hz, C20-H), 4.03 (d, 1H, J=13.0 Hz, C20-H),3.95 (dd, 1H, J=6.3 Hz, 12.4 Hz, C8-H), 3.74 (q, 1H, J=6.6 Hz, OCH₂CH₃),3.07 (s, 1H, C10-H), 2.53-2.62 (m, 4H, 2×C5-H, C11-H, C12-H), 2.04 (s,1H, OH), 1.84 (brs, 4H, C19-H and OH), 1.79 (d, 1H, J=13.4 Hz, C12-H),1.70 (d, 1H, J=12.4 Hz, C14-Hz), 1.63 (brs, s, gem-Me and H₂O), 1.31 (s,3H, gem-Me), 1.11 (d, 3H, J=6.7 Hz, C18-H), 1.05 (t, 3H, J=6.9 Hz,OCH₂CH₃) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): 208.5, 158.3, 142.6, 134.2, 123.8, 110.9,87.0, 78.4, 73.7, 67.5, 58.6, 58.2, 47.5, 40.1, 38.2, 35.3, 35.0, 29.2,20.8, 17.6, 16.1, 10.4 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3391, 2972, 1699, 1064, 732 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 427.2209 (for [M+Na] C₂₂H₃₂N₂O₅Na). Found: 427.2208

Data for S11b (Higher Rf Isomer)

TLC R_(f)=0.50 (100% EtOAc), one purple spot stained by p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp)

[α]D^(23.5)=+59.6° (c 0.28, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): 7.57 (dd, 1H, J=1.4 Hz, 2.2 Hz, C1-H), 5.53 (d,1H, J=3.5 Hz, C7-H), 4.06 (d, 1H J=13.9 Hz, C20-H), 4.00 (d, 1H, J=13.9Hz, C20-H), 3.71 (m, 1H, OCH₂CH₃), 3.66 (m, 1H, OCH₂CH₃), 3.63 (brs, 1H,OH), 3.25 (dd, 1H, J=4.2 Hz, 11.7 Hz, C8-H), 3.03 (t, 1H, J=2.5 Hz,C10-H), 2.59 (m, 1H, C11-H), 2.52 (d, 1H, J=9.2 Hz, C5-H), 2.36 (d, 1H,J=9.2 Hz, C5-H), 2.19 (brs, 1H, OH), 2.10 (d, 1H, J=13.7 Hz, C12-H),1.81 (m, 4H, C19-H and C14-H), 1.59 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.31 (d, 1H, J=9.8Hz, C12-H), 1.28 (t, 3H, J=7.0 Hz, OCH₂CH₃), 1.20 (d, 3H, J=7.5 Hz,C18-H), 1.19 (s, 3H, gem-Me) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): 208.7, 158.1, 140.0, 136.8, 126.9, 120.1,91.2, 78.8, 73.6, 68.6, 59.7, 56.0, 46.5, 40.2, 39.1, 35.2, 31.7, 29.4,22.0, 18.7, 15.6, 10.5 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3404, 2973, 1705, 1061, 889, 737 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 427.2209 (for [M+Na] C₂₂H₃₂N₂O₅Na). Found: 427.2204

Example 13 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of diazene S11a (1.2 mg, 2.9 μmol) in EtOAc (1 mL) wasstirred at room temperature in a disposable glass vial and flushed withargon. The solution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using aRayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature for 30 min until TLCindicated complete consumption of the starting material. The reactionmixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flashchromatography (100% EtOAc, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give12-deoxy-13-ethoxyphorbol (S12) as a white powder (1.0 mg, 90%). Theanalytical data for the product are identical with those of the productobtained by photolysis of diazene S11b.

Example 14 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of diazene S11b (3.0 mg, 7.4 μmol) in EtOAc (1 mL) wasstirred at room temperature in a disposable glass vial and flushed withargon. The solution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using aRayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature for 30 min until TLCindicated complete consumption of the starting material. The reactionmixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flashchromatography (100% EtOAc, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give12-deoxy-13-ethoxyphorbol (S12) as a white powder (2.0 mg, 72%).

TLC R_(f)=0.60 (100% Ethyl acetate), one bluish grey spot stained byp-anisaldehyde (visible under UV lamp)

[α]D^(23.5)=+52.2° (c 0.10, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.57 (s, 1H, C1-H), 5.66 (d, 1H, J=4.8 Hz,C7-H), 4.06 (dd, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, 12.6 Hz, C20-H), 4.01 (dd, 1H, J=6.4 Hz,12.6 Hz, C20-H), 3.66 (dt, 1H, J=7.0 Hz, 15.8 Hz, OCH₂CH₃), 3.44 (dt,1H, J=7.1 Hz, 15.6 Hz, OCH₂CH₃), 3.19 (brs, 1H, C10-H), 2.84 (t, 1H,J=5.2 Hz, C8-H), 2.54 (d, 1H, J=19.2 Hz, C5-H), 2.44 (d, 1H, J=19.1 Hz,C5-H), 2.20 (s, 1H, OH), 2.12 (s, 1H, OH), 2.03 (m, 1H, C11-H), 1.92(dd, 1H, J=7.3 Hz, 14.8 Hz, C12-H), 1.82 (brs, 3H, C19-H), 1.69 (dd, 1H,J=8.8 Hz, 14.9 Hz, C12-H), 1.55 (t, 1H, J=6.0 Hz, C20-OH), 1.30 (s, 3H,gem-Me), 1.19 (t, 3H, J=7.1 Hz, OCH₂CH₃), 1.03 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 0.99 (d,3H, J=6.6 Hz, C18-H), 0.76 (d, 1H, J=6.8 Hz, C14-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 209.2, 160.4, 139.7, 134.4, 130.4, 74.0,68.7, 64.9, 62.7, 56.2, 39.1, 39.0, 36.6, 32.7, 31.1, 25.7, 22.5, 19.3,16.9, 15.9, 10.5 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3390, 2917, 1698, 1075, 908, 732 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 399.2147 (for [M+Na] C₂₂H₃₂O₅Na). Found: 399.2148

Example 15 Crotophorbolone to Ether Analog

A solution of crotophorbolone (27.1 mg, 84 μmol) in methanol (5 mL) wasstirred at room temperature under air. Acetic acid (23 μL, 5 equiv.) andhydrazine hydrate (8 μL, 2 equiv.) were added. The reaction was allowedto stir for 1 h until the consumption of starting material was noted byTLC (100% ethyl acetate). Basic alumina (1 g) and ethyl acetate (10 mL)were added. The slurry was allowed to stir for 10 minutes at ambienttemperature. The crude was passed through a pad of celite (1 g) andconcentrated in vacuo. The crude was redissolved in pyridine (1.80 mL)and DIPEA (0.20 mL) and transferred to a Teflon-capped resealablepressure tube. The solution was sparged with bubbling argon for 10minutes and the tube was sealed. The mixture was heated to 150° C. for16 h. Once the reaction was deemed complete by TLC (30% MeOH in EtOAc),the solvent was removed in vacuo, and the vessel was backfilled withargon to avoid air oxidation of the sensitive pyrazoline. The crude wasredissolved in phenethyl alcohol (5 mL) and cooled to 0° C. In aseparate flask, phenethyl alcohol (5 mL) and PhI(OAc)₂ (125 mg, 5equiv.) were combined, and allowed to stir. The mixture was brieflywarmed to 40° C. to aid in dissolution. The light yellow clear solutionwas cooled to 0° C. and added into the pyrazoline solution at 0° C. Thereaction was allowed to stir for 1 h at 0° C. and 3 h at ambienttemperature. A mixture of saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and saturated aqueousNa₂S₂O₃ (5 mL, 1:1) were added. The organic layer was extracted withethyl acetate (3×20 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. Thephenethyl alcohol was then distilled away from the product (150 mmHg,70° C.), and the residue was subjected to flash chromatography. (1:1EtOAc/Et₂O) to give two diastereomeric diazenes as hard off white foams(S13a—4.6 mg, 12%) and (S13b—2.3 mg, 6%).

Data for S13a (Lower Rf Isomer)

TLC R_(f)=0.60 (100% EtOAc), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde (visibleunder UV lamp);

[α]_(D) ^(23.5)=+88.1° (c 0.22, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃):

7.47 (s, 1H, C1-H), 7.18-7.25 (m, 3H, Ar—H), 7.12 (d, 2H, 7.1 Hz, Ar—H),5.67 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 1H, C7-H), 4.05 (dd, J=15.0, 22.8 Hz, 1H, C20-H),3.96-4.01 (m, 2H, C20-H and OCH₂CH₂Ph), 3.86 (dd, J=8.1 Hz, 14.5 Hz, 1H,OCH₂CH₂Ph), 3.70 (dd, J=7.0, 12.1 Hz, 1H, C8-H), 2.95 (br s, 1H, C10-H),2.65-2.76 (m, 2H, OCH₂CH₂Ph), 2.50 (d, J=18.5 Hz, C5-H), 2.48 (dd, J=3.9Hz, 13.3 Hz, 1H, C12-H), 2.37-2.42 (m, 1H, C11-H), 2.38 (d, 1H, J=18 Hz,C5-H), 1.79 (m, 3H, C19-H), 1.75 (t, 1H, J=12.8 Hz, C12-H), 1.66 (d, 1H,J=12.4 Hz, C14-H), 1.64 (s, 1H, OH), 1.59 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.55 (t,J=5.7 Hz, C20-OH), 1.28 (s, 1H, OH), 1.19 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.03 (d, 3H,J=6.8 Hz, C18-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃):

208.1, 157.8, 142.7, 139.2, 134.0, 129.2, 128.2, 125.9, 110.8, 87.0,78.0, 73.3, 67.2, 63.8, 57.9, 47.3, 40.0, 37.7, 36.9, 35.2, 34.7, 30.3,29.1, 20.5, 17.4, 10.3 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3402, 2926, 1703 (br), 1453, 1257, 1066 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd. (for C₂₈H₃₆N₂O₅Na): 503.2522. Found: 503.2516

Data for S13b (Higher Rf Isomer)

TLC R_(f)=0.67 (100% EtOAc), one black spot in p-anisaldehyde (visibleunder UV lamp);

-   [α]_(D) ^(23.5)+34.4° (c 0.10, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ7.51 (br s, 1H), 7.32-7.21 (m, 5H), 5.51 (s,1H, C7-H), 4.08 (dd, J=4, 16 Hz, 1H), 4.01 (dd, J=4, 16 Hz, 1H), 3.96(dd, J=7, 16 Hz, 1H), 3.76 (dd, J=7, 16 Hz, 1H), 3.23 (s, 1H), 3.21 (brs, 1H), 3.01-2.96 (m, 3H, CH₂Ph), 2.59-2.48 (m, 2H), 2.35 (d, J=19.5 Hz,1H), 2.07 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 2.06 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H) 1.82 (s, 3H), 1.80 (s,1H), 1.42 (dd, J=7, 7 Hz, 1H), 1.30-1.26 (m, 1H), 1.19 (s, 3H), 1.06 (d,J=7 Hz, 3H)

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 208.7, 157.9, 139.8, 137.9, 136.6, 128.9(2), 128.5 (2), 126.7, 126.5, 120.0, 91.3, 78.5, 73.5, 68.4, 64.9, 55.9,46.2, 40.0, 39.0, 36.6, 35.0, 31.4, 29.4, 21.9, 18.3, 10.3 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3400 (br), 2916, 1704, 1457, 1374, 1237, 1063 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd. for (C₂₈H₃₆N₂O₅+Na): 503.2622. Found 503.2516

Example 16 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of S13a (1.5 mg, 3.2 μmol) in EtOAc (1.0 mL) was stirred atroom temperature in a disposable glass vial and flushed with argon. Thesolution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using a Rayonetphotochemical reactor at room temperature for 30 min until TLC indicatedcomplete consumption of the starting material. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flashchromatography (50% ethyl acetate/pentane, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenethyl ether (S14) as a white powder (1.2 mg,81%). The product is identical with the photolysis product of S13b.

Example 17 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

A solution of S13b (17 mg, 34 μmol) in EtOAc (7.6 mL) was stirred atroom temperature in a disposable glass vial and flushed with argon. Thesolution was irradiated with UV light (300 nm) using a Rayonetphotochemical reactor at room temperature for 45 min until TLC indicatedcomplete consumption of the starting material. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and subjected to flashchromatography (50% Et₂O:EtOAc, ID 8 mm, ˜1 g silica) to give12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenethyl ether (S14) as a white powder (14 mg, 87%).The product was characterized by:

TLC R_(f)=0.70 (100% EtOAc), one dark blue spot in p-anisaldehyde(visible under UV lamp);

[α]D^(23.5)+52.0° (c 0.12, CHCl₃)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ7.53 (brs, 1H, C1-H), 7.31-1.19 (m, 5H, Ar—H),5.61 (d, 1H, J=3.8 Hz, C7-H), 4.04 (d, 1H, J=13.1 Hz, C20-H), 3.98 (d,1H, J=13.1 Hz, C20-H), 3.74 (ddd, 1H, J=7.3, 7.3, 8.6 Hz, OCH₂CH₂Ph),3.50 (ddd, 1H, J=7.3, 7.3, 8.6 Hz, OCH₂CH₂Ph), 3.15 (brs, 1H, C10-H),2.84 (d, 1H, J=7.3 Hz, OCH₂CH₂Ph), 2.83 (d, 1H, J=7.3 Hz, OCH₂CH₂Ph),2.78 (m, 1H, C8-H), 2.51 (d, 1H, J=19 Hz, C5-H), 2.41 (d, 1H, J=19 Hz,C5-H), 1.96 (q, 1H, J=7.5 Hz, C11-H), 1.86 (dd, 1H, J=7.5, 15 Hz,C12-H), 1.79 (d, 3H, J=1.4 Hz, C19-H), 1.58 (dd, 1H, J=9.0 Hz, 15.0 Hz,C12-H), 1.21 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.20-1.16 (m, 1H), 0.99 (s, 3H, gem-Me),0.89 (d, 3H, J=6.7 Hz, C18-H), 0.72 (d, 1H, J=6.8 Hz, C14-H)

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 208.8, 160.1, 139.4, 138.9, 134.1, 130.0,129.0 (2), 128.3 (2), 126.2, 77.5, 73.7, 68.5, 68.2, 64.7, 56.0, 38.8,38.7, 36.8, 36.3, 32.4, 30.8, 25.5, 22.2, 18.9, 16.6, 10.2 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3400 (br), 2916, 1702, 1452, 1077 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd. (for C₂₈H₃₆O₅+Na): 475.2460. Found: 475.2456.

Example 18 Conversion of Tiglianes to Daphnanes

Enol acetate S2 (63 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in methanol (2 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under nitrogenatmosphere. Potassium carbonate (20 mg, 0.15 mmol) is added in oneportion and the mixture is stirred at room temperature until TLCindicates complete consumption of the starting material. Aqueousammonium chloride is added to neutralize the reaction mixture. Ethylacetate (5 ml) is added to the reaction mixture, and the organic phaseis removed. The aqueous phase is extracted is extracted with ethylacetate and the combined organic phases are washed with brine, driedover sodium sulfate, concentrated under reduced pressure. The cruderesidue is purified by flash column chromatography. The usual analysisof the product confirms that the desired ketone S11 is present.

Ketone S11 (58 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry dichloromethane (2 ml)in a round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under nitrogenatmosphere. 2,6-lutidine (16 mg, 1.5 eq.) is added via a syringedropwise at room temperature and the reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C.Trimethylsilyl trifluorosulfonate (2.5 μl, 1.1 eq.) is added via asyringe dropwise and the reaction mixture is stirred at 0° C. until TLCindicates complete consumption of S11.

The reaction mixture is cooled to −78° C. and then4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) (20 mg, 1.1 eq) indichloromethane is added via a syringe dropwise. The reaction mixture isstirred at −78° C. until TLC indicates complete consumption of thestarting material. Aqueous sodium bicarbonate is added to the reactionmixture and warmed up to room temperature. The organic phase is removedand the aqueous phase is extracted with dichloromethane. The combinedorganic phases are washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, andconcentrated under reduced pressure. The crude residue is purified byflash column chromatography. The usual analysis of the product confirmsthat the desired product S13 is present.

Substrate S13 (90 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in a mixture (5 ml) of drydichloromethane and methanol (1:10 mixture, v/v) in a round-bottom flaskequipped with a magnetic stir bar. The solution was cooled to −78° C. ina dry ice/acetone bath and ozone is bubbled through the solution until alight blue color appeared. The residual ozone is removed from thereaction mixture by bubbling nitrogen through the solution until theblue color disappears. Sodium borohydride (4 mg, 1.1 eq) is added to thereaction mixture and the reaction mixture is warmed to 0° C. byreplacing the cooling bath with an ice/water bath. The reaction mixtureis stirred until TLC indicates complete conversion to the product. Thereaction is quenched by addition of aqueous ammonium chloride and theorganic phase is removed. The aqueous phase is extracted with ethylacetate and the combined organic phase is washed with brine, dried oversodium sulfate (s) and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purificationby flash chromatography provides the desired product S14. The usualanalysis of the product confirms that the desired product S14 ispresent.

Compound S14 (95 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry THF (5 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under inertatmosphere and cooled to 0° C. Tetrabutylammonium fluoride solution inTHF (0.11 ml, 1.0 M solution) is added dropwise via a syringe to thereaction mixture, and the mixture is stirred at 0° C. until TLCindicates complete consumption of the starting material S14. Thereaction is diluted with ether and quenched by addition of aqueousammonium chloride solution. The separated aqueous phase is extractedwith ethyl acetate. The combined organic phase is washed with brine,dried over sodium sulfate (s), and concentrated under reduced pressure.The crude material is purified by flash column chromatography. The usualanalysis of the product confirms that the desired product S15 ispresent.

Ketone S15 (57 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry THF (2 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under inertatmosphere and cooled down to 78° C. Isopropenyllithium solution (0.5ml, 1.0 M solution) (in dry THF) is added via a syringe dropwise and themixture is stirred at −78° C. until TLC indicates complete consumptionof S15. The reaction is diluted with diethyl ether (5 ml), quenched byaddition of aqueous ammonium chloride solution, and warmed to roomtemperature. The organic phase is separated and the aqueous phase isextracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases are washedwith brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated underreduced pressure. The crude material is purified by flash columnchromatography. The usual analysis of the product confirms that thedesired product S16, a daphnane, is present.

Example 19 Route to C14-Oxy Tiglianes

Ketone S11 (57 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry dichloromethane (2 ml)in a round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under nitrogenatmosphere. 2,6-lutidine (18 μl, 1.5 eq) is added via a syringe dropwiseat room temperature and the reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C.Trimethylsilyl trifluorosulfonate (2.5 μl, 1.1 eq) is added via asyringe dropwise and the reaction mixture is stirred at 0° C. until TLCindicates complete consumption of S11. Aqueous ammonium chloride isadded to neutralize the reaction mixture, and the organic phase isseparated. The aqueous phase is extracted is extracted withdichloromethane and the combined organic phases are washed with brine,dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated under reduced pressure.

The crude residue is dissolved in dry dichloromethane (5 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under nitrogenatmosphere at −10° C. Diethylzinc (0.21 ml, 1.0M solution in THF) isadded via a syringe and then diiodopropane (29 mg, 0.1-mmol) is addedvia a syringe dropwise. The reaction mixture is stirred at roomtemperature until TLC indicates complete consumption of the startingmaterial. The reaction mixture is diluted with diethyl ether and aqueousHCl is added. The organic phase is removed and the aqueous phase isextracted with ether. The combined organic phases are washed with brine,dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Thecrude product is purified by silica gel flash chromatography. The usualanalysis of the product confirms that the desired product S17 ispresent.

Olefin S17 (77 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in a mixture (5 ml) ofdichloromethane and methanol (1:10, v/v) in a round-bottom flaskequipped with a magnetic stir bar and cooled to −78° C. Ozone is bubbledthrough the reaction mixture until light blue color appears. Repeatbubbling ozone until TLC indicates complete consumption of S17. Theresidual ozone is removed by bubbling nitrogen through the reactionmixture. The reaction is quenched by addition of excess thiourea andstirred at −78° C. for 30 min and subsequently warmed to roomtemperature. The residual thiourea is removed by filtration and thefiltrated is concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material ispurified by flash column chromatography. The usual analysis of theproduct confirms that the desired product S18 is present.

Ketone S18 (78 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry dichloromethane (5 ml)in a round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under inertatmosphere at 0° C. One equivalent of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA)(0.105 mmol) is added in one portion and the reaction mixture is stirredat 0° C. until TLC indicates complete consumption of S18. The reactionis quenched by addition of aqueous sodium thiosulfate and the organicphase is removed. The aqueous phase is extracted with dichloromethaneand the combined organic phases are washed with brine, dried over sodiumsulfate (s), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Thecrude residue is purified by flash column chromatography, and the usualanalysis of the product confirms that the desired product S19, a C14-oxytigliane, is present.

Example 20 Production of Daphnanes

Ketone S11 (57 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry toluene (2 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar. Selenium dioxide(22 mg, 2.0 eq) is added in one portion and the mixture is stirred at80° C. until TLC indicates complete consumption of S11. The reactionmixture is filtered to remove residual selenium reagent. The filtrate iswashed with aqueous sodium thiosulfate, dried over sodium sulfate (s),and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material is purifiedby flash column chromatography, and the usual analysis of the productconfirms that the desired product S20 is present.

Alcohol S20 (59 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry ethanol (2 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under argonatmosphere. Hydrazine hydrate (0.15 mmol) and acetic acid (0.4 mmol) areadded dropwise via a syringe respectively. The reaction mixture isstirred at room temperature until TLC indicates complete consumption ofS20. Basic alumina is added to neutralize the acid, and the mixture isstirred for 10 min at room temperature. The mixture is filtered and thefiltrate is concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material isredissolved in a mixture of dry toluene and diisopropylethylamine (3 ml,9:1, v/v), degassed by freeze-pump-thaw, and flushed with argon. Themixture is heated in a sealed vessel to 150° C. until TLC indicatescomplete consumption of the starting material. The crude product isconcentrated by evaporating the solvent under argon atmosphere to avoiddecomposition by reacting with oxygen. The volatiles are evaporatedunder argon atmosphere and the crude residue is re-dissolved in drydichloromethane at 0° C. A mixture of lead (IV) acetate (0.12 mmol) andexcess benzoic acid in dichloromethane (pre-mixed under inertatmosphere) is added dropwise and the reaction mixture is stirred at 0°C. until TLC indicates complete consumption of the starting material.The reaction is quenched by addition of aqueous sodium bicarbonatesolution and the organic phase is separated. The aqueous phase isextracted with dichloromethane and the combined organic phases arewashed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate (s), and concentrated underreduced pressure. The crude material is purified by flash columnchromatography, and the usual analysis confirms that the desiredpyrazoline S21 is present.

Pyrazoline S21 (74 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry benzene (2 ml) in around-bottom flask under argon atmosphere. The mixture is irradiatedwith UV light (300 or 350 nm) until TLC indicates complete consumptionof S21. The solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure and the cruderesidue is purified by flash column chromatography. The usual analysisconfirms that the desired cyclopropane S22 is present.

S22 (71 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry dichloromethane (5 ml) in around bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under argonatmosphere. Pyridine is added and the mixture is cooled to 0° C.Methanesulfonyl chloride (0.11 mmol) is added dropwise via a syringe andthe mixture is stirred at 0° C. until TLC indicates complete consumptionof S22. The reaction is quenched with aqueous ammonium chloride and theorganic phase is separated. The aqueous phase is extracted withdichloromethane, and the combined organic phases are washed with brine,dried over sodium sulfate (s) and concentrated under reduced pressure.The crude residue S23 is used in the next step without furtherpurification.

Crude S23 is dissolved in dry 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (5 ml) in around-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar. Molecular sieves(100 mg) are added and the suspension is refluxed under argon atmosphereuntil TLC indicates complete consumption of S23. The reaction mixture iscooled to room temperature and diluted with diethyl ether. The mixtureis washed with aqueous ammonium chloride and 1 N hydrochloric acidsolution to remove residual 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, dried over sodiumsulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The cruderesidue is purified by flash column chromatography, and the usualanalysis confirms that the desired orthoester S24 is present.

Example 21 Production of C13-Alkoxy Pyrazoline

Enol acetate S2 (63 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry methanol (2 ml) ina round bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar under air at roomtemperature. K₂CO₃ (1.5 eq.) is added in a single portion, and themixture is stirred vigorously until complete conversion to ketone isobserved by TLC. Acetic acid (5 eq) and hydrazine hydrate (5 eq.) areadded, and the reaction is allowed to stir for 1 hour and monitored byTLC (100% ethyl acetate, PA Stain). Following complete consumption ofthe starting material, basic alumina is added, and the reaction isdiluted with ethyl acetate. The mixture is passed through a pad ofCELITE® with ethyl acetate rinse. The organic solvent is removed underreduced pressure to give the crude hydrazone. The crude hydrazone isresuspended in a mixture of toluene/DIPEA (3 ml, 9:1, v/v) in aTeflon-capped sealed tube under argon. The mixture is heated to 150° C.for 16 hours. After cooling, the solvent was removed under reducedpressure, and the vessel backfilled with argon. Exposure of the crudepyrazoline S5 to air must be avoided. The crude is redissolved inethanol (3 ml), and a pre-mixed solution of PhI(OAc)₂ (1.5 eq.) inethanol (pre-mixed for 10 min at ambient temperature) is added at 0° C.The mixture is stirred at 0° C. until TLC indicates complete consumptionof the pyrazoline S5. The reaction is quenched with aqueous NaHCO₃(saturated), and extracted with diethyl ether. The combined organiclayers are washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered to removedrying agent, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue ispurified by flash chromatography. The usual analysis of the productconfirms that the desired product S25 is present.

Example 22 Removal of Trityl Protecting Group

S25 (68 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry MeOH (2 ml) in a round bottomflask equipped with a magnetic stir bar at room temperature, and HClO₄(20 μl, 70% in H₂O) is added. The reaction is allowed to stir at ambienttemperature until TLC indicates complete consumption of S25. The mixtureis neutralized by addition of solid NaHCO₃, diluted with EtOAc andfiltered through a pad of CELITE®. The crude filtrate is concentratedunder reduced pressure, and subjected to flash chromatography to providethe product S26. The usual analysis of the product confirms that thedesired product is present.

Example 23 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

S10 (43 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in a mixture of benzene and ethylacetate (2 ml, 1:1, v/v) in a round-bottom flask at room temperatureunder argon atmosphere. The solution is irradiated with UV light (300nm) using a Rayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature until TLCindicates complete consumption of the starting material. The reactionmixture is concentrated under reduced pressure, and the crude residue ispurified by flash column chromatography. The usual analysis confirmsthat the desired product S27 is present.

Example 24 Production of C13-Bromo Pyrazoline

A solution of enol acetate S2 (20 mg, 0.031 mmol) is stirred in methanol(2 ml) under air at room temperature. K₂CO₃ (5 mg, 1.5 eq) is added in asingle portion, and the mixture is stirred vigorously for 10 min untilcomplete conversion to ketone is observed by TLC. Acetic acid (20 μl, 10eq) and hydrazine hydrate (30 μl, 20 eq.) are added, and the reaction isallowed to stir for 15 min and monitored by TLC (100% ethyl acetate, PAStain). Following complete consumption of the starting material, thereaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (2 ml) and quenched byaddition of aqueous NaHCO₃ (2 ml). The organic phase is removed and theaqueous phase is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×2 ml). The combinedorganic phase is washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate (s), andconcentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude hydrazone. Thecrude hydrazone is resuspended in a mixture of toluene/DIPEA (1 ml, 9:1,v/v) in a Teflon-capped sealed tube under argon. The mixture is heatedto 150° C. for 16 hours. After cooling, the solvent was removed underreduced pressure, and the vessel backfilled with argon. Exposure of thecrude pyrazoline to air must be avoided. The crude is redissolved inchloroform (2 ml), and a pre-mixed solution of N-bromosuccinimide (10mg, 5 eq.) in chloroform (2 ml, pre-mixed for 10 min at ambienttemperature) is added dropwise over 1 min at 0° C. The mixture isstirred at 0° C. for 10 min until TLC indicates complete consumption ofthe pyrazoline. The reaction is quenched with aqueous NaHCO₃ (saturated,2 ml), and extracted with dichloromethane (3×2 ml). The combined organiclayers are dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered to remove drying agent, andconcentrated under reduced pressure. The residue is subjected to flashchromatography to give a colorless foam (10.1 mg, 47%) The product ischaracterized by:

TLC R_(f)=0.29 (20% EtOAc/petroleum ether), one purple spot stained byp-anisaldehyde (visible under UV lamp)

[α]_(D) ^(23.5)=−43.7° (c 0.50, CH₂Cl₂)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.52-7.55 (m, 6H, Ar—H), 7.12-7.13 (m, 6H,Ar—H), 7.03-7.06 (m, 4H, Ar—H and C1-H), 5.57 (d, 1H, J=4.0 Hz, C7-H),3.51 (s, 2H, C20-H), 3.10 (dd, 1H, J=11.8 Hz, 5.0 Hz), 2.70 (s, 1H,C10-H), 2.56 (d, 1H, J=8.4 Hz, C14-H), 2.45 (dd, 1H, J=15.4 Hz, C12-H),2.31 (m, 1H, C11-H), 2.10 (d, 1H, J=18.5 Hz, C5-H), 1.98 (dd, 1H, J=15.4Hz, 8.5 Hz, C12-H), 1.92 (s, 1H, OH), 1.87 (d, 1H, J=19.0 Hz, C5-H),1.58 (dd, 3H, J=2.8 Hz, 1.3 Hz, C19-H), 1.54 (s, 3H, gem-Me), 1.36 (s,3H, gem-Me), 1.37 (s, 1H, OH), 1.17 (d, 3H, J=7.5 Hz, C18-H) ppm.

¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 207.0, 156.1, 144.4, 137.9, 136.4, 128.9,128.5, 127.4, 126.3, 102.5, 92.9, 87.3, 77.6, 73.3, 68.6, 57.3, 52.7,41.2, 41.1, 38.9, 32.8, 28.7, 23.4, 17.2, 10.1 ppm.

FT-IR (thin film): ν 3412, 2921, 1705, 1448, 1054, 706 cm⁻¹.

HRMS: Calcd.: 703.2142 (for [M+Na] C₃₉H₄₁BrN₂NaO₄). Found: 703.2147

Example 25 Removal of Trityl Protecting Group

Pyrazoline S28 (68 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in dry methanol (2 ml) ina round bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar at roomtemperature, and HClO₄ (20 μl, 70% in H₂O) is added. The reaction isallowed to stir at ambient temperature until TLC indicates completeconsumption of the starting material. The mixture is neutralized byaddition of solid NaHCO₃, diluted with EtOAc and filtered through a padof CELITE®. The crude filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure,and purified by flash chromatography. The usual analysis of the productconfirms that the desired product S29 is present.

Example 26 Formation of Cyclopropane Ring Structure

Pyrazoline S29 (44 mg, 0.1 mmol) is dissolved in a mixture of benzeneand ethyl acetate (2 ml, 1:1, v/v) at room temperature in a disposableglass vial flushed with argon. The solution is irradiated with UV light(300 nm) using a Rayonet photochemical reactor at room temperature untilTLC indicates complete consumption of the starting material. Thereaction mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure, and the cruderesidue is purified by flash column chromatography. The usual analysisconfirms that the desired 13-deoxy-13-bromoprostratin (S30) is present.

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CONCLUSION

While only a few embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein for the production of deoxytilgiane-type compounds orstructural or functional analogs thereof, it will become apparent tothose skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can bemade in the present invention without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention. All such modification and changes comingwithin the scope of the appended claims are intended to be carried outthereby. Any patents or publications mentioned in this specification areindicative of levels of those skilled in the art to which the patent orpublication pertains as of its date and are intended to convey detailsof the invention which may not be explicitly set out but which would beunderstood by workers in the field. Such patents or publications arehereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each wasspecifically and individually incorporated by reference, as needed forthe purpose of describing and enabling the method or material referredto.

1. A process to produce a 12-deoxy tigliane-type compound or astructural analog thereof of the formula:

Formula I wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,alkyl (C1 to C15), cyclic alkyl (C3 to C15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl,carbonate, carbamate, ester, ether, thiol, amine, amide, guanidine andurea; R₂ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 toC15), cyclic alkyl (C3 to C15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate,carbamate, ester, ether, thiol, amine, amide, guanidine and urea; R₃ isselected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 to C15),cyclic alkyl (C3 to C15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate, carbamate,ester, ether, thiol, amine, amide, guanidine and urea; R₄ is selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 to C15), cyclic alkyl(C3 to C15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate, carbamate, ester,ether, thiol, amine, amide, guanidine and urea; R₅ is selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 to C15), cyclic alkyl (C3 toC15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate, carbamate, ester, ether,thiol, amine, amide, guanidine and urea; and R₆ is selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, alkyl (C1 to C15), cyclic alkyl (C3 toC15), aromatic ring, hydroxyl, carbonate, carbamate, ester, ether,thiol, amine, amide, guanidine and urea; with the proviso that R₁ and R₆cannot both be hydrogen and wherein R₁ and R₆ may be connected as in thecase of 12-deoxy tigliane-type compounds, or may be disconnected as inthe case of structural analogs, said process comprising: a) contactingan enolate salt, enol ester, enol ether or a ketone at the positioncorresponding to C-13 of a compound, said compound possessing structuralfeatures of a C ring of a tigliane and possessing a C-14 linked to atleast a propenyl group, with hydrazine or an agent equivalent tohydrazine at a temperature between −20 and +150° C. for about 0.1 toabout 72 hours; b) contacting the product of step a with an organicsolvent at approximately +20 to +250° C. to form a pyrazoline product;c) contacting the product of step b with an oxidizing agent which is anelectron withdrawing compound or nucleophilic agent in an organicsolvent at between about −10 to +120° C. for approximately 0.1 to 72hours to form a product oxidized at said C13 position; d) forming fromthe product of step c) a compound of Formula I by 1) contacting theproduct of step c with light of a wavelength that is absorbed by theproduct in a solvent at between about −20 and +60° C. for between about1 to 240 min; or 2) contacting the product of step c with an excitedstate of a sensitizer formed by absorption of light by the sensitizer;or 3) contacting the product of step c with a metal or metal salt in anorganic solvent at between about −80 and +110° C. for between about 1and 48 hours; and e) isolating the compound of Formula I from theproduct of step d).
 2. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein R₂is methyl, R₃ is an ester —OC(O)Ak, where Ak is an alkyl chain, R₄ andR₅ are methyl groups, and/or R₁ and R₆ are connected by a 5 member alkylchain as in a tigliane skeleton.
 3. The process as set forth in claim 1,wherein R₁₋₆ groups are straight-chained or branched, and contain one ormore heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, silicon and selenium.
 4. The process as setforth in claim 1, wherein step a) is conducted in the presence of a baseor an acid.
 5. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein step a) isfollowed by treatment with a base or a hydrazine scavenger.
 6. Theprocess as set forth in claim 1, wherein step b) is conducted in thepresence of a base.
 7. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein stepc) is conducted in the presence of one of a carboxylic acid, alcohol,thiol, amine, halide, or a combination thereof.
 8. The process as setforth in claim 1 wherein step c) is followed by: contacting the productof step c) with a nucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing agent orcombinations thereof in an organic solvent at between −20 and +150° C.for between 0.1 and 72 hours or with an acid, a base, an oxidizingagent, or a reducing agent; or contacting the product of step c) with anucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing agent or combinationsthereof in an organic solvent at between −20 and +150° C. for between0.1 and 72 hours and then with an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or areducing agent; or contacting the product of step c) with an acid, abase, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent and then with anucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing agent or combinationsthereof in an organic solvent at between −20 and +150° C. for between0.1 and 72 hours.
 9. The process as set forth in claim 8, wherein saidacid is perchloric acid.
 10. The process as set forth in claim 1,further comprising: contacting the product of step d) with anucleophilic agent, an alcohol derivatizing agent or combinationsthereof in an organic solvent at between −20 and +150° C. for between0.1 and 72 hours or with an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or areducing agent; or contacting the product of step d) with a nucleophilicagent, an alcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in anorganic solvent at between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hoursand then with an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent;or contacting the product of step d) with an acid, a base, an oxidizingagent, or a reducing agent and then with a nucleophilic agent, analcohol derivatizing agent or combinations thereof in an organic solventat between −20 and +150° C. for between 0.1 and 72 hours.
 11. Theprocess as set forth in claim 10, wherein said acid is perchloric acid.12. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: obtaining acompound for use in step a) that is phorbol, phorbol-20-trityl ether orcrotophorbolone; and contacting an obtained compound from the precedingstep with a derivatizing agent, an acid agent, or a base agent atapproximately −20 to 150° C. for between about 1 to 72 hr to produce anenol derivative or ketone at the position corresponding to C13 of atigliane.
 13. The process as set forth in claim 12, wherein the obtainedcompound is protected at positions corresponding to C-13 and/or C-20 ofa tigliane or combinations thereof.
 14. The process as set forth inclaim 12, further comprising contacting the enol derivative or ketonewith an oxidizing agent, a nucleophilic agent, or a reducing agent atapproximately +10 to +100° C. for approximately 0.1 to 72 hours.
 15. Theprocess as set forth in claim 12, wherein said obtained compound is aphorbol analog or a precursor thereof.
 16. The process as set forth inclaim 15, wherein said obtained compound is protected at positionscorresponding to C-13, C-20 of a tigliane.
 17. The process as set forthin claim 16, wherein protecting groups are removed by an acid agent or abase agent.
 18. The process as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidderivatizing agent, acid or base agent is methanesulfonyl chloride inpyridine.
 19. The process as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidderivatizing agent, acid or base agent is hydrazine hydrate.
 20. Theprocess as set forth in claim 1, wherein said 12-deoxy tigliane-typecompound is prostratin or 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP). 21.The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein step a) is carried out withhydrazine hydrate in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed byacetic acid.
 22. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein theproduct of step a) is treated with basic alumina.
 23. The process as setforth in claim 1, wherein step b) is carried out in a mixture ofN,N-diisopropyl ethylamine and toluene.
 24. The process as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said oxidizing agent in step c) is lead (IV) acetate.25. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said oxidizing agent instep c) is iodosobenzene diacetate (PhI(OAc)₂).
 26. The process as setforth in claim 1, wherein said oxidizing agent in step c) is premixedwith phenylacetic acid.
 27. The process as set forth in claim 1, whereinstep c) is conducted in the presence of a mixture of carboxylic acidsselected from the group consisting of primary alkyl, secondary alkyl,tertiary alkyl and aromatic organic carboxylic acids.
 28. The process asset forth in claim 1, wherein step c) is conducted in the presence of amixture of alcohols selected from the group consisting of primary alkyl,secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and aromatic alcohols.
 29. The processas set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleophilic agent in step c) ishydrogen cyanide.
 30. The process as set forth in claim 1, where thepreferred wavelength of light used in step d) is between 300 and 370 nm.31. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein R₁ and R₆ togethercomprise a ring structure whereby Formula I is a tigliane.
 32. Theprocess as set forth in claim 31, wherein R₂ is lower alkyl, R₃ isester, R₄ is lower alkyl and R₅ is lower alkyl.